I have Tatum 2nd on the best players 25 and under

[18isGREATERthan72]

The play of Tatum, Doncic, Brown and Alexander is changing very rapidly, although some other players on the list are still clearly getting better, including Antetokounmpo (yikes!).

It seems a bit of a stretch to put Tatum ahead of Doncic and Jokic, but I'm also not totally sure what is going on with Tatum yet. Perhaps he is becoming a 30+ ppg scorer as we are watching. Perhaps he's just having a hot streak and will settle soon.

I'm still not completely sure Doncic still wouldn't be better. Is his passing advantage worth more than Tatum's defense? I'm just not sure Tatum makes anyone around him any better, and you need that to be an MVP level guy. He's fortunate that he's playing with three other guys that don't need his help to score in bunches.

Jokic is also a weird case, and hard to judge, but ultimately, he's got Denver roughly where the C's are but with less talent.

Tatum makes the guys around him better on the defensive end.  Tatum has been a great team defender this year.  So I'd argue he does improve his teammates.

[ETNCeltics]

ESPN had a segment on something similar today, and most of them had Tatum as #2 player 21 & under, behind Doncic.

IMO, Luka's gotta be #2, and I think he'll eventually be #1. He's the best player at this age I've ever seen.

Zion's hard to rank having only played a few games, but OP, you can't legitimately leave Trae Young off and dismiss him as you've "got to see more". Maybe you discount what he's done because he's playing for a terrible team in meaningless games, but 30/9 in his second year after a good rookie year is something the league has rarely seen. I don't think it's reasonable to put him behind some of the guys on your list, including JB.
 

[wiley]

a bit off topic but would the 13 players in the OP (how about Bam?) on one team be able to beat the best of the over 25's?


Who are the 13 or 14 best over-25 players in the league? 

Lebron, Leonard, George, Harden, Anthony Davis, Karl Towns, Curry, Thompson, Westbrook, ?


Looking into future for the under 25's I'd make a guess:
Giannis
Zion
Tatum
Doncic
etc..

[Jvalin]

Is this for real? Are you guys seriously suggesting that Tatum is better than Luka?

Anyway, personally speaking I have Tatum at #9.

(based on their performance this season, not counting potential)

1. Giannis
2. Luka
3. Embiid (edit: I forgot Embiid)
4. Jokic
5. KAT
6. Simmons (yeah, I know he can't shoot)
7. Siakam
8. Ingram
9. Tatum

Honorable mentions (in random order): SGA, Bam, Mitchell, Trae Young, DLo, Booker, Sabonis, Porzingis, Zion, Brown, Ja, JJJ, Fox, Murray, Smart, Myles Turner

[Celtic Fan Forever]

Is this for real? Are you guys seriously suggesting that Tatum is better than Luka?

Anyway, personally speaking I have Tatum at #8.

1. Giannis
2. Luka
3. Jokic
4. KAT
5. Simmons (yeah, I know he can't shoot)
6. Siakam
7. Ingram
8. Tatum

Honorable mentions (in random order): SGA, Bam, Mitchell, Trae Young, DLo, Booker, Sabonis, Porzingis, Zion, Brown, Ja, JJJ, Fox, Murray, Smart, Myles Turner

In what way is Brandon Ingram a better player than Jayson Tatum?

[Jvalin]

Is this for real? Are you guys seriously suggesting that Tatum is better than Luka?

Anyway, personally speaking I have Tatum at #8.

1. Giannis
2. Luka
3. Jokic
4. KAT
5. Simmons (yeah, I know he can't shoot)
6. Siakam
7. Ingram
8. Tatum

Honorable mentions (in random order): SGA, Bam, Mitchell, Trae Young, DLo, Booker, Sabonis, Porzingis, Zion, Brown, Ja, JJJ, Fox, Murray, Smart, Myles Turner

In what way is Brandon Ingram a better player than Jayson Tatum?

Well, for starters he's averaging better numbers on the offensive side of the ball, while being more efficient as well. Imo, Ingram is the better shot creator. Unlike Tatum, he creates shots for his teammates as well.

Problem with Ingram is his injury history. Blood clots are no joke. Chris Bosh was forced into early retirement because of blood clots.

[GreenEnvy]

Giannis
Luka
Towns
Tatum

The rest I wouldn’t trade Tatum for, besides maybe Zion based on potential. People are overrating guys like Siakam, Simmons, and Jokic, IMO.

[GreenFaith1819]

Posted this lineup before but I'm adding my 6th man before he turns 26 in a few days:


F - Greek Freak
F - Tatum
F - Zion
G - Jaylen
G- Luka
6th Man - Smart (until March 6, at least)

Find me another lineup that beats this one 25 and under.

[nickagneta]

1. Giannis
2. Doncic
3. Embiid
4. Tatum
5. Jokic
6. Siakam
7. Mitchell
8. KAT
9. Simmons
10. Young

[Tr1boy]

Is this for real? Are you guys seriously suggesting that Tatum is better than Luka?

Anyway, personally speaking I have Tatum at #8.

(based on their performance this season, not counting potential)

1. Giannis
2. Luka
3. Jokic
4. KAT
5. Simmons (yeah, I know he can't shoot)
6. Siakam
7. Ingram
8. Tatum

Honorable mentions (in random order): SGA, Bam, Mitchell, Trae Young, DLo, Booker, Sabonis, Porzingis, Zion, Brown, Ja, JJJ, Fox, Murray, Smart, Myles Turner

Are you jokin or JOKIN?

KAT is lazy and a poor defender. Overrated. Even with his stats, why do you think he didnt make the all star team?

And you have him higher than Tatum?

You may need to rewatch Tatum vs Clippers and Lakers.

[dannyboy35]

bias, homer ...call it whatever.  But we have seen him turn from a starter, all star and bonifide superstar in a span of one season

Here is my list of best players that are 25 years old and younger

1. Giannis  Antetokounmpo
2. Jayson Tatum
3. Luka Doncic
4. Pascal Siakam
5. Joel Embiid
6. Nikola Jokic
7. Ben Simmons
8. Donovan Mitchell
9. Jaylen Brown
10. Shai Gilgeous Alexander

outside looking in (need more time to prove themselves)

Ja Morant
Trae Young
Zion Williamson

your list?

  I’m too lazy to look up guys on my own and I’ve been out of it somewhat and can’t form any opinion on Zion ‘cuz I’ve missed him so I’d go..
1. Greek
2. Luka
3. Jokic
4. Embiid
5. Siakam
6. Mitchell
7. Brown
8. Tatum
9. G-Alexander
   This would be my right now take.
  I’m not sure I’d call Tatum a superstar. Before this latest burst I had him as the 4th best Celtic. But he’s coming on strong.

its your list

but are you serious??

Tatum on par against great players like Leonard or Davis (recent games), does not do the trick for you??

  No. He keeps doing it then now we’re talking but  most of these others  have been proving it longer and at a more efficient level.  I don’t come here to be a contrarian and if there’s one thing I want to do on a message board I’d admit when I’m wrong ‘cuz it’s often and it’s a very unappealing quality not to admit you’re wrong.  I think Tatum CAN be a great player and he sure is playing awesome lately but not to go thru every player but I believe Jaylen and Jayson are extremely close but I think Jaylen is the better defender, shooter, passer, ball handler, penetrator. Rebounding maybe a wash?
  Ah whatever it’s all good. Tatum as good as Luka freaking Doncic? Jokic?!! Holy moly. Hey, I’ll be thrilled to be wrong. Ready to be shocked and thrilled.

[sgrogan]

Posted this lineup before but I'm adding my 6th man before he turns 26 in a few days:


F - Greek Freak
F - Tatum
F - Zion
G - Jaylen
G- Luka
6th Man - Smart (until March 6, at least)

Find me another lineup that beats this one 25 and under.

C - Jokic
F - Greek Freak
F - Tatum
G - Luka
G - Simmons
6th Man - Brown

I considered Morant and Mitchel for the second guard. I chose Simmons for D/Switchability.
I think any 5 out of these 6 could play together, choosing Brown had a lot to do with this.

[Jvalin]

Is this for real? Are you guys seriously suggesting that Tatum is better than Luka?

Anyway, personally speaking I have Tatum at #8.

(based on their performance this season, not counting potential)

1. Giannis
2. Luka
3. Jokic
4. KAT
5. Simmons (yeah, I know he can't shoot)
6. Siakam
7. Ingram
8. Tatum

Honorable mentions (in random order): SGA, Bam, Mitchell, Trae Young, DLo, Booker, Sabonis, Porzingis, Zion, Brown, Ja, JJJ, Fox, Murray, Smart, Myles Turner

Are you jokin or JOKIN?

KAT is lazy and a poor defender. Overrated. Even with his stats, why do you think he didnt make the all star team?

And you have him higher than Tatum?

You may need to rewatch Tatum vs Clippers and Lakers.

How about cause the Wolves suck and the West is loaded with elite big men (AD, Jokic, Gobert)?

Not to mention the fact that the all-star game is to a large extent a popularity contest.

[Tr1boy]

Is this for real? Are you guys seriously suggesting that Tatum is better than Luka?

Anyway, personally speaking I have Tatum at #8.

(based on their performance this season, not counting potential)

1. Giannis
2. Luka
3. Jokic
4. KAT
5. Simmons (yeah, I know he can't shoot)
6. Siakam
7. Ingram
8. Tatum

Honorable mentions (in random order): SGA, Bam, Mitchell, Trae Young, DLo, Booker, Sabonis, Porzingis, Zion, Brown, Ja, JJJ, Fox, Murray, Smart, Myles Turner

Are you jokin or JOKIN?

KAT is lazy and a poor defender. Overrated. Even with his stats, why do you think he didnt make the all star team?

And you have him higher than Tatum?

You may need to rewatch Tatum vs Clippers and Lakers.

How about cause the Wolves suck and the West is loaded with elite big men (AD, Jokic, Gobert)?

Not to mention the fact that the all-star game is to a large extent a popularity contest.

TBH (except for yourself) I don't think many think that KAT is better than Tatum currently

Lebron, Leonard don't doll out compliments just to anybody

[ETNCeltics]

The fact that Minn has been better without KAT than with him this year speaks volumes. They've lost 18 of their last 19 when he starts. That such a talented guy can't even lift his team anywhere near playoff contention doesn't speak to him being anything other than a guy who puts up hollow, meaningless stats. I wouldn't want him on my team.

Tatum would be high on any such list. It may not be reasonable to put him ahead of an established pro like Jokic, but all season long, even before he started pouring it on over the last month, he's the guy the team looks to, especially if Kemba's out. Everyone defers to him offensively. Even Kemba has said it's JT's team. For a 21 year old to be regarded that way by 2 veteran all-star players speaks volumes about how good he is. No way he should be 2nd on such a list, but if I made one he'd probably be 5th or so. Certainly not behind a tissue-soft loser like KAT, and not behind Simmons, perhaps the only guard in the league who completely lacks the most important skill in the game.