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The NBA Finals have begun, and both the Boston Celtics and the Golden State Warriors are hard at work. With the series tied at one game apiece, all eyes will be on Boston, where fans will be hoping for more incredible performances. Check out the best bookmakers for betting on the NBA Finals!
Jayson Tatum is a rising star that both the Celtics and their fans will be looking to. He is currently averaging 26 points, six assists, and six rebounds per game. He has been an important part of the Celtics’ run in the playoffs so far.
“I think he can be really good. We’re talking K.D. status,” Tracy McGrady said to NBC Sports’ Chase Hughes on Monday. “I think the kid has the potential to be that good.”
Tatum seemed to be the best player on the court when the Celtics played the Brooklyn Nets in the first round. In a four-game sweep, Tatum beat Kevin Durant, Nets forward who is one of the best players of his generation. He has been an All-Star 12 times, won the scoring title four times, and was the MVP once. Tatum is also a two-time NBA Finals MVP, no wonder why people compare his performance with Durant.
Tatum was named a First-Team All-NBA player for the 2021–22 season. He just won the Larry Bird Trophy, which is given to the most valuable player in the Eastern Conference finals, for the first time. If the Celtics beat the Warriors, he’ll be 24 years old, an NBA champion, and probably the most valuable player in the NBA Finals.
“He’s already showing glimpses of that in his young NBA career,” McGrady said. “I think he has the ability to win multiple championships, be an MVP of the NBA. I think he has that ability.”
When it comes to Stephen Curry, who Tatum is currently facing in the NBA Finals, McGrady appears to believe that a fourth championship ring would do a lot to help cement his reputation considering the circumstances surrounding his previous three championships.
“That’s a tough question,” McGrady said when asked where Curry ranked all-time. “Because he has his career individually and with what he’s accomplished with his team is tough.”
Curry would earn his fourth title if the Warriors triumphed this season and it wasn’t against an injury-depleted opponent, or something unexpected happened.
“We know Steph is like the 3-point God,” McGrady added. “But when it comes to putting him with [Michael Jordan] and these guys that won that level of championships; Kobe [Bryant] and Magic Johnson, I don’t know where to rank him. I know he’s pretty high. But I think those guys are in a different class than Steph Curry based off of [all of that].”
If Tatum wins, he will become the youngest player in NBA history to win a title. Curry’s first championship ring came at the age of 27. LeBron James was 27 years old, whilst Michael Jordan and Durant were both 28.
“They’re on championship teams. K.D. came and joined the Warriors and became the best player and helped Steph win two more championships. But Steph wasn’t the best player on that team.”
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