21. Jayson Tatum’s Boston Celtics
Jayson Tatum failed to follow up his stellar 2018 playoff run the way many anticipated, but the disappointment didn’t completely fall on him. The Boston Celtics were a walking circus throughout last season, unable to mesh in ways that lived up to their championship expectations with broken chemistry and a jumbled hierarchy.
Tatum can certainly function off the ball, but the former Blue Devil is best creating for himself, dissecting pick-and-roll coverages and firing away with his smooth outside jumper. Its why he helped Boston to within a game of the NBA Finals as a rookie, averaging 18.5 points per game.
A three-time All-Star, Kemba Walker may be Boston’s best player, but the Cs are unequivocally Tatum’s team, entrusting him with the primary role that fostered his breakout postseason just two years ago.
Opportunites — or lack thereof — have played a big role in both the success and failure of athletes across all sports. Tatum got his as a rookie and flourished only to stumble in their absence a year later. With a pecking order fully in place, the breakout All-Star level campaign many expected is set to commence when the coming season tips off.