For three years now, Jayson Tatum has been recognized as an All-Star and an elite scorer. Tatum has developed every year he has been in the league, but one thing that has gone under the radar has been his defense. On a loaded defense like Boston’s, it is very easy to get overshadowed on that end of the floor despite being the team’s best player. Tatum doesn’t quite have the scrappy playstyle of Marcus Smart or the rim protection like Robert Williams. However, Tatum hits the deck to get the loose balls and is willing to take on the matchup of the best player on the floor if called upon.
Jayson Tatum’s Defense on KD ? pic.twitter.com/hHdYpsPks9
— DukeLights (@duke_lights) April 21, 2022
The Regular Season Stats
Before Tatum has put the league on notice as a Two-Way Superstar in the postseason, he held it down in the regular season. Tatum recorded the sixth-best defensive rating in the NBA at 106.3. Ninth in blocks and 14th in steals among Small Forwards where Tatum sits in his respective position. While these aren’t the most elite numbers in the world, he was able to do this along with his career-year offensive production while averaging the fifth-most minutes in the league.
The separation from Tatum and the rest of the young stars in the league are these exact numbers. Luka Doncic and Trae Young are known as some of the most elite offensive players in the league; however, they are also known as two of the worst defenders the league has to offer. An elite Two-Way Superstar like Tatum can find himself having more success than these two because he has a will to fight on the dirty end of the floor.
Against Kevin Durant
The lights are on this highly anticipated matchup. With Smart obviously taking Kyrie Irving, that has left Tatum with Kevin Durant. While Durant’s bad nights have been unusual, credit Tatum for giving Durant a two-game stretch he has never seen before. KD has been shooting just 31% from the field this series.
When Jayson Tatum was Durant’s primary defender this series, he is shooting 15% with eight points and seven turnovers. Credit Ime Udoka for drawing up some amazing traps for KD, but there is a point where a man has to be on an island. Tatum has proven he is a Two-Way Superstar with his performance while guarding KD thus far in the series.
KD with Tatum as primary defender this series:
8 PTS
2-13 FG (15%)
0-3 3P
0 AST
7 TOVTatum has blocked his jumper twice and committed only 1 shooting foul. pic.twitter.com/vawxfbkOs9
— StatMuse (@statmuse) April 21, 2022
Boston has the Defensive Player of the Year and an All-Defensive team candidate on their team. But let’s respect the Two-Way Superstar. If Tatum is the third-best defender on the opposing team, good luck.
Follow me on Twitter for more sports news and analysis! Also, tune into the Sideline Summit podcast on all platforms and follow us on all platforms for sports news and analysis. Be sure to check out some other Belly Up Articles here.
