From star to superstar: Tatum’s playmaking was the final piece

Since entering the league, Jayson Tatum has been heralded as one of the NBA’s most dynamic scorers. With a 6’10” frame and one of the smoothest jumpers in the game, he long relied on his scoring prowess to propel the Celtics to victories.

Tatum’s elite offensive arsenal made him a star, but for years, the “superstar” label remained just out of reach. The media and fans alike questioned whether he could elevate his teammates the way MVP front-runners like Luka Don\u010di\u0107 and Nikola Joki\u0107 do. While his scoring, defense, and rebounding were elite, his playmaking kept him just a tier below the game’s most elite company.

Tatum has heard those critics, and he has worked tirelessly to…