Jayson Tatum used quarantine to get absolutely ripped
By John Likanje
![INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 10: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics dribbles the ball against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 10, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 10: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics dribbles the ball against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 10, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/df8daa4d6dc6378551170f8c2682642810eb800c16c31aaca447618cec467ed2.jpg)
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum uploaded a workout video showing his body transformation.
A lot of NBA players have taken advantage of the four-month hiatus and stayed in shape, resulting in major body transformations. The most notable was the emergence of skinny Nikola Jokic but we can add Celtics small forward Jayson Tatum to this list as well. The former Duke standout uploaded a workout video showcasing his four months of hard work.
Before the video even starts, you can see Tatum handling a basketball and the first thing that stands out is how slimmed down he has become. Tatum has always been a skinny individual, but now it seems he cut down fat and developed it into muscle. His arms are stockier, which will help him immensely considering his play style. As a three-level scorer, Tatum relies heavily on being able to create space or blow by opposing defenders.
Tatum’s jumper looks the best it has ever been. In the past, it looked awkward because he was prone to kick his leg out a little bit, especially on fadeaways. Now, Tatum’s shot is a more fluid, straight-up-and-down motion that releases at the highest point.
Finally, Tatum has tightened the handle on his crossover. This is essential considering the type of moves and shots he takes during a game and will help him cut down on turnovers as well (he averaged a career-high 2.2 turnovers per game this season).
Does Tatum’s body transformation increase the Celtics’ title hopes?
Although the Celtics are fringe contenders, Tatum’s body transformation should excite fans and give them hope, especially in a top-heavy Eastern Conference. Tatum already took a leap this season by increasing his scoring average from 15.7 to 23.6. Now that he’s skinnier, he should be able to pour the ball in the basket with more ease and play more minutes.
It’ll be interesting to see how Tatum matches up against the top wing defenders on the conference’s contenders (Milwaukee, Toronto, Miami and Philadelphia). The Milwaukee Bucks feature Khris Middleton, an underrated, two-way All-Star. The Toronto Raptors have a multitude of defenders such as OG Anunoby, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Stanley Johnson and Patrick McCaw. The Miami Heat are a defensive juggernaut with Jimmy Butler, Jae Crowder and Solomon Hill. The Philadelphia 76ers’ strength is their size and length with players such as Tobias Harris.
The Celtics are scheduled to resume their season on July 31 against the Bucks. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. ET and will air on ESPN.
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