Ramp to Camp: What more can Jayson Tatum add to his game? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Jayson Tatum has always been pretty good with predictions. During the summer he shared an essay he wrote in fourth grade in which he essentially laid out his future as an NBA champion and Olympic gold medalist.
During an appearance in “The Tonight Show” with Jimmy Fallon on Wednesday, Tatum was asked to predict the next NBA Most Valuable Player.
“Can I say it myself?” Tatum replied with a smile.
MVP feels like one of the few boxes Tatum has left checked as he ascends into the top echelon of NBA elite. But what can he add to his game to help reach that lofty perch?
For the ninth installment in ours Ramp To Camp series, we asked our NBC Sports Boston panel to pick one thing they’d like to see from Jayson Tatum during the 2024-25 season.
(Check the first eight installments of Ramp to Camp here.)
Tatum, a three-time All-NBA First-Teamer, already has two top-six finishes in MVP voting (sixth in 2024; fourth in 2023). His scoring dipped last season but his playmaking evolved as Tatum did a lot more of the little things that helped Boston dominate the league.
There’s not much to argue about. Tatum had his best season finishing at the rim (72 percent) and pushed his 3-point shooting percentage north of his career mark (37.6 percent last year). Some will argue with his shot selection, and after some early success in the post last season, we’d love to see him work a little harder in that spot over the course of a season.
But, for this writer, it’s all about Tatum’s development as a playmaker.
Tatum attracts so much attention that it creates easy scoring opportunities for his teammates. During Boston’s dominant postseason run, his potential assists per game increased to 10.1. He had more potential assists in the finals (10.8 per game) than Luka Doncic (9.6), and created nearly four more assist points per game than Doncic in that series.
Tatum has only three career triples, but one came early during Boston’s 2024 playoff run. Leaning just a little more heavily into playmaking, it feels like a triple-double could be a one-night stand.
Tatum’s court vision only continues to evolve. He will occasionally unleash the one-handed, cross-court dart that LeBron James could deliver. And remember that behind-the-back feed to Al Horford in East Finals against the Peacemakers?
That’s peak Tatum. Maybe even MVP Tatum.
Here’s what our panel would like to see:
Let’s hit that five-assist-per-game mark. (Tatum averaged a career-high 4.9 last season).
Everyone will say it’s better to skip shooting, and I want that too. But Tatum should ignore the Olympic noise and continue to grow as a facilitator. It will take the pressure off him in the long run. Besides, that’s what winners do.
Tom GilesMulti-platform host
Become a killer in the final moments.
People nationally gravitate to guys who make clutch shots (ie Jamal Murray). I would love to see Tatum have some of those buzzer moments and I wonder what that does for his national perception.
Max LedermanMulti-platform producer
Tatum can make all the shots, so what I’d really like him to work on is shot selection.
His field goal percentage on step-up 3s has declined in each of the last three seasons, so unless he turns that around, I want him to take fewer of them this season. I wouldn’t mind more mid-range jumpers and I’ll be happy if he works in more of those turnaround baseline jumpers that he never seems to miss.
Mark Hazlett, Multiplatform producer
While I want the rest of the team to leave last season, I want Tatum to bow out to win the title.
At times, it feels like JT can push late in tight games. Jayson, you are now minted in NBA lore. The weight lifted your broad shoulders. I think he’s on the rise again.
More drives to the basket.
Tatum averaged just 6.7 free throw attempts per game last season after attempting 8.2 per game in 2022-23. If he strives to get to the rack more in 2024-25, his improved playmaking can help generate great looks for his teammates.
Tatum was an outstanding playmaker in the playoffs, especially in the clinching Game 5 of the Finals when he had 11 assists. He averaged 6.3 assists per game in the postseason — an improvement on his 4.9 dimes per game in the regular season.
Tatum’s passing has greatly improved since his rookie season. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to have him start the offense a bit more like a power forward, especially if he’s still on the floor early in the game with the second unit.
Choice of shot.
Tatum is at his best when he attacks the rim rather than settling for contested 3-pointers. He goes through phases where he remembers that and is in control, but he needs to be more consistent if he hopes to be a serious contender for the MVP award.
Kevin Miller, VP, Content
There are a few areas where JT could continue to become more effective — catch-and-shoot 3s, mid-post baskets, and finishing at the rim. I’m going with the latter as the one I’d most like to see, just for the sake of developing a mindset.
I want him to believe he can finish over the top of people, draw plus-ones, and just convey a “don’t mess with me” mentality. It’s there and we’ll see more of it this season.
