Jayson Tatum can finally put the 'soft' allegations to rest permanently

The new year has not brought about newfound respect for one of the game's most underappreciated stars. Despite helping the Boston Celtics win the 2024 NBA Finals, some are still not impressed by Jayson Tatum's game.

Earlier this month, former Milwaukee Bucks guard Brandon Jennings openly asked if Tatum was the "softest superstar in Celtics' history" on "Gil's Arena" podcast with fellow NBA retiree Gilbert Arenas. Tatum has already barked back on social media, but the rest of the campaign will grant him a chance to put this kind of critique to rest.

It is no secret that the Celtics are one of the best squads in the league. They are currently third in Net Rating and second in Turnover Percentage. Boston boasts on of the best rosters and they play a clean brand of basketball.

As a result, Tatum does not always have to "carry" his teammates to the finish line. Jaylen Brown and others provide elite backup, but it is worth noting that Tatum may have to raise his game given teams like the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers have improved since the end of last season.

Defending a championship is hard enough at it is, and the Celtics' path could be harder this postseason. If Tatum meets the moment, he may quiet most of his detractors.

Jayson Tatum has a chance to put the 'soft' allegations to rest permanently.

Jennings' comments also came with a jab regarding Tatum's lack of an NBA Finals MVP. Brown took home the award last year against the Dallas Mavericks, but there is reason to believe there could be a different outcome this year if the Celtics make it back to the final round of the tournament.

Contenders such as the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, and Minnesota Timberwolves all have much better Defensive Ratings than what the Mavericks posted last season. If the Celtics were to face any of these teams in the NBA Finals, they would need Tatum to be aggressive and not allow the opposition's defense to stop him from scoring.

Much of the criticism that the 26-year-old has faced revolves around the idea that he has not had to be the "best player" on the court at all times. While it is not a given that Boston will repeat and win the 2025 NBA Finals, any path towards this goal will require a more deadly version of Jayson Tatum.