Jayson Tatum predicts he will average over 20 ppg and make All-Star team next season
Jayson Tatum thinks he has a heck of an age-21 season in store for the people.
In an NBA 2K video feature that was released on Tuesday, the Boston Celtics forward reacted to his player rating of 85 in this year’s game (down from an 87 last year) and called it “disrespectful.” Tatum then went on to predict that his rating would rise to a 90 by next year.
“Imma average over 20 [points per game], [be an] All-Star, and the Celtics are going to the championship,” he added for good measure.
Tatum reacts to his rating #2KRatings pic.twitter.com/vz2DqSDEvK
— NBA 2K20 (@NBA2K) July 24, 2019
While the title prediction seems like typical player puffery, putting up over 20 points per game and making the Eastern Conference All-Star team next year are actually realistic individual goals for Tatum. He averaged 15.7 points per game last season, which should be going up now that the likes of Kyrie Irving, Terry Rozier, and Al Horford have dipped from the Celtics. Meanwhile, many players from last year’s Eastern All-Stars are either a) hurt (Victor Oladipo), b) out of the conference (D’Angelo Russell and Kawhi Leonard), or c) retired (Dwyane Wade).
The Celtics made clear this summer that Tatum is a centerpiece for them, and he obviously believes he can live up to that billing starting with next season.
