For years, a common narrative thread across the NBA has been the talent disparity between the two conferences. While the West is filled to the brim with talent, the East is often seen as a relatively easy task. This year, though, that statement might hit a little too close to home, especially with one of the best players on that side, Jayson Tatum, sidelined for the year.
A torn ACL suffered in last season’s playoffs is likely going to include a lengthy absence that could push Tatum back to the 2026-27 season. Without him, the Boston Celtics have had a solid start, but nowhere near the heights they climbed last year. But even from afar, the superstar small forward has been keeping a close eye on the league, with one particular player standing out apart from the rest.
The NBA Player Guessing Game allows you to guess the NBA player based on clues about their team, division, height, jersey number, points, and experience.
Jayson Tatum Has His Eyes Locked Across the NBA
A five-time All-Star in his career, Tatum quickly established himself as a star player in the league, as he led the Celtics to a Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals as a rookie. However, it wasn’t until later in his career that he truly ascended to superstar status.
For most players, though, the jump to stardom is a more gradual process. This year, as parity remains the name of the game, several players have taken significant steps forward in their career trajectories.
Meanwhile, Tatum is on the sidelines, recovering from the ACL injury that effectively ended the season for Boston last year. But that doesn’t mean he hasn’t kept a close watch on the happenings across the league.
Making an appearance on “The Morris Code,” with former NBA stars and twin brothers Marcus Morris and Markieff Morris, Tatum had a candid conversation that ranged from his recovery process to the state of the Celtics and the league as a whole.
Specifically, though, he was asked about any young players who have stood out to him. Without missing a beat, the former NBA Champion had an immediate answer when he chose Keyonte George from the Utah Jazz.
“I’m just watching the game, and I’m seeing, first, he got bigger, and I’m just seeing he got a different burst about him.” He voiced his thoughts to Jason Terry and Will Hardy, the two main coaches for the Jazz, and they confirmed his suspicions.
“I’m sitting on the bench and I’m like, ‘Oh, he really worked on his game this summer’. So when I went up to Will and Jason Terry, I’m like, ‘I don’t know who working with him, but he really worked on his game.’”
They confirmed that the third-year star had put in a noticeable effort, both physically and on the court. As a result, the difference was immediately apparent.
From a 16.8 points per game scorer on sub-40% shooting from the field, George has transformed into a player averaging almost 24 points and seven assists a night, while shooting a career-best 44.7% from the field.