The Boston Celtics are the defending NBA champions.
They hold the second-best record in the Eastern Conference and have performed well against the team with the best record in the league this season.
That’s why Quentin Richardson can’t fathom why Jayson Tatum doesn’t get enough credit.
Talking on ESPN, the former NBA player claimed that he didn’t know what else Tatum could do to finally get some respect and recognition around the league (via ClutchPoints):
“Jayson Tatum has been totally disrespected this whole season with the numbers he’s putting up and the season he’s having leading his team… and not to get the credit that he deserves… I don’t understand why we don’t give him more credit?” he asked.
“Jayson Tatum has been totally disrespected this whole season with the numbers he’s putting up and the season he’s having leading his team… and not to get the credit that he deserves… I don’t understand why we don’t give him more credit?”
—@QRichpic.twitter.com/SEk7Hfk1yy
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 23, 2025
Truth be told, it’s hard to disagree with that statement.
Not even winning an NBA championship has been enough to turn the narrative around about Tatum.
If anything, some fans mock him for not winning NBA Finals MVP, even though it was a bit of a toss-up, and his numbers were nearly identical to Jaylen Brown’s.
Tatum has posted MVP-caliber seasons for years, including this one, and he’s proved that he’s not a choke artist like his haters usually say.
No one can deny that Tatum is one of the most talented and physically gifted players in the league.
Granted, he has an elite supporting cast, but people shouldn’t hold that against him.
More than that, just like Richardson said, Tatum doesn’t bring any drama to the table.
He doesn’t talk much, and when he does, he doesn’t stir the pot.
He doesn’t even talk trash, and he rarely misses any games because of injuries.
This doesn’t make much sense, and it’s about time the fans and the media start giving Tatum his flowers as one of the best among the best.
NEXT: Payton Pritchard Is Betting Favorite To Win Notable NBA Award
