I think we can all agree that Tatum's inability to make the leap from rookie sensation to potential all-star was one of the most disappointing parts of the season. He didn't have a bad year, to be fair, he just didn't grow into the player we all expected. He seemed lethargic for long stretches; he took too many long twos; he danced too much in ISO; he took too many shots falling away, off one leg; and he whined to the refs after every play, which, for me was infuriating.
So what happened?
1. Kyrie & Hayward returned. Hard to put too much stock in this, as Tatum averaged three more shots per game this year. In fact, his stats were all up from his rookie campaign, except for three-point %, which dropped 6%.
2. He picked up some bad habits from Kobe. Kobe's video analysis of Tatum's game last spring was spot-on, and Tatum got better afterward, so it's hard to imagine Kobe giving him bad advice when they worked out together, or tried to ruin his game because of the Lakers-Celtics rivalry.
3. His head got too big after a strong playoff run, culminating in that dunk on Lebron. I didn't see arrogance from Tatum this year, just a lack of focus, energy and confidence.
4. His son was born. There's probably something to this, as sleep deprivation is real, but it's not the main reason he disappointed, I don't think.
5. The team's mysterious, season-long funk affected everyone. Probably true. This team just never clicked except for a few, small stretches.
6. Opponents figured out his game, and he never adjusted. Probably some truth to this. His spin moves weren't as effective, his ball-handling was inconsistent, and he didn't seem to create the same separation getting his mid-range shot off.
Any other theories? What do you want him focusing on this summer?