Jayson Tatum has evolved his game in just about every way possible since joining the Boston Celtics in 2017. In doing so, he has joined the conversation of being a top-five player in the NBA and it’s due to the incredible amount of work and determination he’s dedicated to improving himself for the Celtics and the rest of the NBA.

We’ve all had the luxury of watching Tatum become a better scorer, learning how to utilize his size and maneuver his body around the court. He feels more comfortable driving to the lane for a possible And-1 opportunity with the extra muscle he’s put on since entering the league. 

A much better defender, realizing that being a two-way player will benefit the overall team. Again, the extra weight he’s put on allows him to be more accepting of contact and defend the opposing team’s best player, regardless of position, because he’s able to absorb the contact and hold his own. 

Additionally, a much better passer, learning that once he gets going there will be more opportunities to pass the ball around the court. Drive kick-outs and secondary scoring become more of a consistent possibility when Tatum is hot and making passes.

Pair Tatum’s superstardom to that of a head coach in Ime Udoka that has gotten his entire roster to fully buy into the system and culture that he is creating. The outcome of that pair is Boston becoming a destination for free agents. 

Lastly, Tatum led the Celtics all the way to the NBA Finals this season, under a first-year head coach nonetheless. Tatum and Udoka have transformed the Celtics into a free agent destination. 

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Photo Credit: Brian Babineau, NBAE, Getty Images