Well, there’s not as much debate about the No. 1 spot. Jayson Tatum, who famously went third overall after the Sixers traded up to select Markelle Fultz in the top spot, is the rightful first pick in hindsight. While Tatum always profiled as a gifted scorer at Duke, nobody could have seen his rapid NBA ascent coming.
Tatum led Boston to the NBA Finals last season at 24 years old. Now he’s on the verge of MVP contention. He’s the most fluid wing scorer since Kevin Durant. It just comes easily to him: the pristine footwork, the high-arcing jumper, the stone-cold demeanor. Tatum can beat the defense from anywhere on the floor. He has the strength to overpower smaller defenders inside, the speed to slaughter slow-footed bigs on the perimeter, and the tough-shot acumen to demoralize those who can actually stay in front of him.
A gifted isolation scorer from the very beginning, Tatum has since diversified his approach. His passing gets better every season. He can run ball screens and create for teammates, as well as for himself. There simply aren’t many holes in Tatum’s offensive repertoire at this point.
The proverbial cherry on top is Tatum’s recent transformation into an elite wing defender. The Celtics’ defense is what made them so formidable last season, and Tatum played his part well. He’s capable of checking the opponent’s best player and using every bit of his 6-foot-11 wingspan to wreak havoc. True superstars tend to get it done on offense and defense. Tatum is a true superstar.