Jayson Tatum having a better rookie season than Curry

[slightly biased bias fan]

Jayson Tatum joined Kevin Garnett as the only rookie teenager to ever have six blocks and at least three steals in a game Saturday vs the Nets, but it would be irrational to compare him to the Big Ticket. No, Tatum’s rookie season has actually been more comparable to two-time MVP Steph Curry.

In fact, Tatum is having a much more efficient rookie season than Curry, sporting a 57.1 eFG% compared to Curry’s 53.5 eFG%. The picture becomes a bit clearer when you look at the numbers through the first 43 games of their respective careers.

Stupid, right? Due to his size, position, and ability to take off for a layup from the 3-point line, most people compare Tatum to Curry’s teammate Kevin Durant. While there is some validity to that argument (If Tatum attempted the same amount of shots KD did his rookie year he’d be averaging 25 ppg … KD only scored 20 ppg his rookie year … just saying), the shooting and scoring numbers look more like Curry.

At the end of the day these numbers don’t guarantee Tatum will be a future MVP and/or a four-time scoring champion; however, at this point he’s at least a lock for the Hall of Fame.

*Story from NBC Sports Boston

[Jiri Welsch]

Time to start looking into sculptors for his statue next to Red.

[Roy H.]

Brent Barry had a higher eFG% than both Curry and Tatum.

Also, Curry scored 17.5 points per game his first season.

Tatum looks like a future star, but guys don’t follow the same career paths. If they did, Buck Williams would have turned into a superstar based upon his rookie season.