SI names Jayson Tatum 'Most Likely to Succeed' from rookie class


Sports Illustrated came out with a list of yearbook-style superlatives for this year's NBA rookie class and named Boston Celtics 3rd-overall pick Jayson Tatum as 'Most Likely to Succeed'. Via SI.com:


MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED: JAYSON TATUM, CELTICS

There are players with glitzier games and bigger shoe contracts, but few are more versatile than Jayson Tatum, who flashed the full range of his talents at Summer League. He’s been called Paul George Lite before, but the comparison feels more apt now. Obviously that projection hinges on how he develops. In Boston, though, he will have the luxury of being brought along slowly. Celtics president Danny Ainge coveted Tatum so much that one has to believe his future in Boston will be a bright one.


That has to be the best one you can get, right?. Some of the other awards included 'Most Athletic' (Dennis Smith Jr.), 'Best Hair' (DJ Wilson), 'Best Shooter' (Malik Monk), and of course 'Most Likely to be Rookie of the Year', which went to 1st-overall pick and almost-Celtic Markelle Fultz. If Fultz is anywhere as good as most of us expect than he's definitely the frontrunner for ROY given that he'll have an ample opportunity to prove himself with plenty of playing time, although there's a few other guys that went near the top of the draft that might give him a run for his money.

Just a few weeks back Vegas had Tatum with better odds than Fultz to capture the ROY award for the upcoming season, which is a little crazy considering Markelle should have a bigger role for his team this season, likely the opening night starter, whereas we all know C's coach Brad Stevens generally brings his young players along slowly at the start of their rookie campaign.

Still, it's pretty remarkable that it isn't just the Celtics that are so high on Tatum. The bookkeepers in Vegas, Sports Illustrated, and lots of other NBA experts are bullish on his potential. We've now heard comparisons to Paul George, Carmelo Anthony, Dirk Nowitzki, Kobe Bryant, and local favorite Paul Pierce in regards to different aspects of Tatum's arsenal on the offensive end.


via GIPHY

Of course SI couldn't leave out Lonzo Ball in their superlative awards. He got 'Most Likely to Have a Parent Storm the Court'.

Nailed it.


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