Jayson Tatum is one of the best American-born players in the NBA, but how do people around the league feel about the Boston Celtics star?
ESPN’s Tim Bontemps surveyed 20 NBA executives, scouts and coaches about their predictions for this season. He asked participants who they believe is the current best American-born player. Most voters selected Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry.
“Before Tatum’s injury, this question wouldn’t have been on the survey at all, given the Boston Celtics superstar wing was coming off First-Team All-NBA honors for a fourth consecutive season and won the NBA title a year ago,” Bontemps wrote Monday. “But with Tatum out of the mix, the honor instead was given to Curry, despite him being 37 years old and entering his 17th NBA season.”
No one gave Tatum a single vote, while Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards received the second most votes, and Cleveland Cavaliers wing Donovan Mitchell received one vote for third place.
Although no one voted for Tatum as the best American player this season, two voters chose him as the best American player in the next five years.
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Tatum will be 32 in five years. If he fully recovers from his Achilles injury, he has no reason not to remain the best American player by 2030.
Featured image via Paul Rutherford/Imagn Images
