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 Dončić and Nikola Jokić 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 earn his place at the exclusive superstar table. The result? A complete transformation for the MVP candidate. His evolution as a passer has not only raised the sky-high ceiling for the Celtics but has also cemented his status as a generational talent.

After leading Boston to a championship last season, Tatum could have easily been content with his role—an elite scorer who made the right plays when necessary. But instead of being comfortable, he doubled down. He’s averaging a career-high 5.8 assists per game this season, with an even more impressive 6.8 per game in February. Of his 14 career games with 10+ assists, seven have come this season alone.

But these assists aren’t just glamourous stat-padding values for JT; they are directly leading to Celtics wins. In Celtics losses this season, Tatum has averaged 5.0 assists per game. In victories, that number jumps to 6.1. His usage percentage follows a similar pattern: 28% in losses, 32% in wins. When the offense flows through Tatum, Boston thrives — a notion that hasn’t always been true throughout his career.

But why does he have such a big impact? As one of the best scoring threats in the NBA, he commands constant attention from opposing defenses. Whether it’s defenders collapsing when he drives or entire teams scheming around his gravity, Tatum forces opponents into impossible choices. And now, with his improved vision, he’s exploiting those weaknesses better than ever.

The game has slowed down for Tatum, and it shows. While many of his assists last year came off of double teams and respectable drive-and-dish plays, Tatum is now manipulating defenses. He’s coming off of screens, drawing two defenders, and throwing the ball to where his teammates will be, not where they already are.

Even when he’s not drawing help defenders, he uses his scoring threat as a playmaking tool. The best example of this comes with his pick-and-roll chemistry with Kristaps Porziņģis. When Tatum doesn’t create for himself or lob it to KP, he masterfully uses an eye fake to manipulate the corner defender, creating an open three for a teammate. Plays like this aren’t just flashes of brilliance—they’re becoming routine:

As if the Celtics needed any more firepower, their best player has taken another leap. Boston was already a championship team before this evolution, and now, Tatum’s refined playmaking is just another weapon in their arsenal.

The scariest part? He’s only scratching the surface. As a five-time All-Star, three-time All-NBA First Team selection, and a reigning champion, Tatum is miraculously just entering his prime. With his 27th birthday approaching, there are no more weaknesses in his game—he’s officially the engine of the Celtics’ offense. The “superstar” label isn’t up for debate anymore.

Jayson stated early this week that he wanted to be a generation-defining player like LeBron James or Stephen Curry. Congratulations, Jayson. It looks like you’re well on your way.