Paul Pierce on Jayson Tatum: ‘He’s one of the best players in the NBA’

The NBA is about to begin, and the Boston Celtics want to compete for a championship ring again. After losing to the almighty Warriors in the 2022 Finals to Stephen Curry and Co., Boston has managed to completely rebuild itself this summer to compete again in style and with its main stars in graceful form . Paul PierceThe last Celtics legend to win a championship ring more than a decade ago, and the first since the Larry Bird era, He praises Jayson Tatum, ranking him among the top 5 best players in the entire NBA.

“He’s one of the five best players in the leagueso it was an honor to be there to watch his journey. I’m really just here to support him and watch him grow this season. Jayson (Tatum) is already at the top of the food chain“It’s a machine, so I’m just part of the support system,” Pierce commented on the podcast. Kilogram certification of Wonderful Basketball With Kevin Garnett. As usual, many players from other teams or former league stars enter the offseason with the goal of raising their competitive ceiling. This isn’t the first time Tatum has shared his summer preparations with Pierce.

This isn’t the first time Pierce has surrendered to the Boston Celtics’ young stars.As early as 2018, Tatum was just a rookie, Pierce acknowledged the similarities between his game and current NBA stars. last year, the truth He’s true to his word, declaring that Tatum can surpass Kevin Durant in the league rankings. Tatum finished fourth in MVP voting in the 2023 season, averaging 30.1 points, 8.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists that year.so what Pierce said is not outrageous.

The Celtics star has been selected to the NBA All-NBA First Team for consecutive years due to his unforgettable performance in the playoffs. The forward set a record by scoring 51 points in Game 7 of last season’s Eastern Conference Finals elimination of the Philadelphia 76ers..

star hierarchy

To many, putting Jayson Tatum in the top five of the best players in the NBA might sound crazy. Some analysts believe that today, Nikola Jokic After winning the 2023 NBA Finals MVP, he won consecutive MVP awards and became the best player in the league. Giannis Antetokounmpo He could stay in the background, just behind the Serbian. Stephen Curry as good as before.The hierarchy of Luka Doncic There’s no doubt they’ll put him on the roster, especially if he can land a historic mega-extension. Kevin Durant and LeBron James They continue to perform at an elite level.