Hot Take Or Not? Tatum Is Better Than Durant

[Roy H.]

Hall of Fame Boston Celtics small forward Paul Pierce likes what he sees in star Celtics forward Jayson Tatum these days as the latter continues to build a case as the leading candidate for the NBA’s 2023 Kia Most Valuable Player award.

Posting an excerpt of a recent episode of his Showtime Basketball “Ticket and the Truth” podcast featuring former Celtics teammate Kevin Garnett, The Truth revealed how highly he holds Tatum compared to his all-time great peers in the league. “I think after last year’s playoffs, he surpassed Kevin Durant as far as a better player in today’s NBA,” suggested Pierce.

“I think him going against Kevin Durant was a passing of the torch. I’m not taking that away from KD, KD is still one of the greatest players ever. He’s still one of the best in the game.”

“I just think Tatum today has passed KD,” finished Pierce.

Stats:  https://stathead.com/basketball/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=0&player_id1=tatumja01&p1yrfrom=2023&player_id2=duranke01&p2yrfrom=2023

It's hard to separate the best player discussion from team success, but purely on an individual level, who is superior this season?

[Goldstar88]

I agree with what PP is saying. That playoff series with Brooklyn last season did seem like the passing of the torch. Tatum was unstoppable. I’d take him over KD at this point.

[Vermont Green]

Hall of Fame Boston Celtics small forward Paul Pierce likes what he sees in star Celtics forward Jayson Tatum these days as the latter continues to build a case as the leading candidate for the NBA’s 2023 Kia Most Valuable Player award.

Posting an excerpt of a recent episode of his Showtime Basketball “Ticket and the Truth” podcast featuring former Celtics teammate Kevin Garnett, The Truth revealed how highly he holds Tatum compared to his all-time great peers in the league. “I think after last year’s playoffs, he surpassed Kevin Durant as far as a better player in today’s NBA,” suggested Pierce.

“I think him going against Kevin Durant was a passing of the torch. I’m not taking that away from KD, KD is still one of the greatest players ever. He’s still one of the best in the game.”

“I just think Tatum today has passed KD,” finished Pierce.

Stats:  https://stathead.com/basketball/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=0&player_id1=tatumja01&p1yrfrom=2023&player_id2=duranke01&p2yrfrom=2023

It's hard to separate the best player discussion from team success, but purely on an individual level, who is superior this season?

Tatum was better than Durant in the playoffs last season (not by a lot though) but I have not seen enough of Durant this season to judge.  The stats show two fairly equal players.  Durant is still really good though.

I think if a team had a choice to take Tatum or Durant to add to their team for just this season, it is a very tough call.  Durant, if he stays healthy, stays 100%, he is probably slightly better but there is far more risk that Durant won't be able to stay 100%.  Will miss more games, maybe be worn down again come play off time.  Tatum is the safer bet.

[td450]

Hall of Fame Boston Celtics small forward Paul Pierce likes what he sees in star Celtics forward Jayson Tatum these days as the latter continues to build a case as the leading candidate for the NBA’s 2023 Kia Most Valuable Player award.

Posting an excerpt of a recent episode of his Showtime Basketball “Ticket and the Truth” podcast featuring former Celtics teammate Kevin Garnett, The Truth revealed how highly he holds Tatum compared to his all-time great peers in the league. “I think after last year’s playoffs, he surpassed Kevin Durant as far as a better player in today’s NBA,” suggested Pierce.

“I think him going against Kevin Durant was a passing of the torch. I’m not taking that away from KD, KD is still one of the greatest players ever. He’s still one of the best in the game.”

“I just think Tatum today has passed KD,” finished Pierce.

Stats:  https://stathead.com/basketball/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=0&player_id1=tatumja01&p1yrfrom=2023&player_id2=duranke01&p2yrfrom=2023

It's hard to separate the best player discussion from team success, but purely on an individual level, who is superior this season?

I don't know about that. Durant was better last night.

Did Andrew Wiggins pass Tatum last year? No, but he outplayed him for one series. What has seemed to happen is that Tatum can generally be counted on to roughly offset Durant in a series. Either guy might play better or worse over a few games, but Durant isn't enough to guarantee an advantage on us any more.

[Csfan1984]

Right now KD on a good night is better but Tatum on a average night gives you more. Age is catching up on KD. Overall I'd take KD in a series but Tatum in a season. Health and team makes a huge difference between who wins in a match up.

[Kuberski33]

Tatum is a legitimate MVP candidate right now, so this season, I think Tatum gets the edge by a decent margin. Scoring, facilitating the offense, defense, rebounding - to me he has the whole package.  And like Bird in his prime he's coming to play every night.

[Kernewek]

I’m mostly excited to see what KD’s burners have to say about it, to be honest. He’s first ballot hall of fame when it comes to thin skin.

[keevsnick]

Hall of Fame Boston Celtics small forward Paul Pierce likes what he sees in star Celtics forward Jayson Tatum these days as the latter continues to build a case as the leading candidate for the NBA’s 2023 Kia Most Valuable Player award.

Posting an excerpt of a recent episode of his Showtime Basketball “Ticket and the Truth” podcast featuring former Celtics teammate Kevin Garnett, The Truth revealed how highly he holds Tatum compared to his all-time great peers in the league. “I think after last year’s playoffs, he surpassed Kevin Durant as far as a better player in today’s NBA,” suggested Pierce.

“I think him going against Kevin Durant was a passing of the torch. I’m not taking that away from KD, KD is still one of the greatest players ever. He’s still one of the best in the game.”

“I just think Tatum today has passed KD,” finished Pierce.

Stats:  https://stathead.com/basketball/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=0&player_id1=tatumja01&p1yrfrom=2023&player_id2=duranke01&p2yrfrom=2023

It's hard to separate the best player discussion from team success, but purely on an individual level, who is superior this season?

Offensively they are very similar, but KD is probably still better. His efficiency is just off the charts good, only guys who challenges it is Steph. Tatum with a 31.8% USG, 62.4 TS%, 18.4% AST%. KD with the 31.0% USG, 66(!) TS%, 25% AST%.

Defensively Tatum is better, but KD is no slouch in that department, he's better than most think.  Tatum is maybe the slightly more active rebounder at this point. Both average 36.9 minutes, Tatum has missed 1 game and Durant 0.

So ya, its like REALLY close. 

[Who]

I'm sold. Tatum > Durant.

[Chief]

I think Tatum now knows some of Durant's moves. Working our together has benefited the younger player.

[wdleehi]

Tatum will take the lead in terms of games played.   Durant is much more likely to miss a stretch of games.

[Moranis]

It is pretty close.  Who you might prefer this season may depend on what else is on the team.  Tatum is more of an engine than Durant, but Durant is one of the greatest complimentary players in league history.  Like if you had Giannis already, you'd prefer Durant.  If you had someone like Davis, you'd prefer Tatum.  I think it would depend on what you need.  By the end of the year, it may be no question though and you may always take Tatum.

[SparzWizard]

Did ya see that steal yesterday? KD has met his daddy, Tatum!

[#1P4P]

Tatum being better than Durant is not a hot take anymore.

I give KD a slight edge in the offensive department because Durant knows his spots, gets to them, and is near automatic when he gets there; it’s Tatum’s last obstacle to becoming the better offensive player. Aside from that, Tatum really closed the gap with his consistency this season and is the better player.

He’s the leading MVP candidate, one of the best scorers, defenders, and most durable players in the league, our team is on a 8-9 game winning streak against the Nets, and he’s spearheading the #1 team in the NBA with one of the best offenses of all time.

[moiso]

I'd go with Tatum.  They are pretty equal as players but Tatum is more durable and it seems like he's hungrier for team success than Durant is at this point.