Jayson Tatum still shooting the lights out after 24 games


It may be time to stop saying "so far" when he comes to Jayson Tatum's performance on the court. After 24 games, the season is almost 30% done and his shooting percentages persist. Among non-centers, he is ranked 9th in field-goal percentage while hitting at a 50.2% clip. Among all players, he is ranked first in three-point shooting with a 49.3 percentage. The above numbers are for NBA players who have played at least 15 games and have averaged at least 28 minutes per game.



Jayson continues to excel in Clutch Time. He is shooting 50.0% on field goals and 63.2% from behind the arc with the game on the line. Here is ESPN's Chris Forsberg on the subject:

With the Celtics clinging to a one-possession lead with under a minute to play in Saturday's game against the visiting Phoenix Suns, the 19-year-old Tatum turned the corner after Al Horford slowed his defender with a screen on the right wing. When no one stepped up to deter Tatum, the rookie exploded to the basket for a two-handed slam.

Even though the Celtics boast one of the NBA's best clutch-time players in Kyrie Irving, Tatum has distinguished himself with a final-quarter poise that's well beyond his years. Saturday's late-game slam helped Boston hang on for a 116-111 triumph over the Suns at TD Garden.

Tatum is averaging 4.4 points in the fourth quarter this season, a mark that's second on the Celtics behind only Irving, who is fourth best in the NBA at an average of 7 points in the final frame.



I tend to be a cautious individual, and "so far", "we'll see" and "for now" are some of my favorite phrases. You won't see many of those phrases from me in connection with Jayson in the future. He looks like the real deal, and with almost 30% of the season burned away, Jayson Tatum will only get better.

Follow Tom at @TomLaneHC

Photo via Ethan Miller/Getty Images North America
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