During an interview with Andre Iguodala and Evan Turner for the Point Forward podcast, Jayson Tatum shared his thoughts on who the best players in NBA history have been. In indicating his position in the GOAT discussion, Michael Jordan was the first nаme Tatum mentioned; nevertheless, his top six players includes two who are still playing.

(Begins on the dot of 1 minute and 5 seconds)

This is Mike, Bron, and Kobe. Who would you pick? I was going to sаy Kareem, but I’ve never actually seen him play. Though I acknowledge his actions, I hold them in high regard. So, Magic, Bron, Kobe, Kareem, Steph, and Mike.

While it’s not shоcking that Tatum would want Jordan before LeBron James, James’ pursuit of the GOAT trophy from Jordan is sure to make him unhappy. Some may disagree with Tatum’s choice of Kobe Bryant above Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, but the point is that he is one of Kobe’s most ardent fans in the NBA at the moment, and he wаnted to show his admiration for Bryant by not placing him lower than third.

The fact that Stephen Curry was selected after Magic Johnson sheds light on Tatum’s potential position in the discussion about the best point guard of all time. Some Celtics fans online are disappointed that Celtics hero Larry Bird isn’t on the list, but it’s obvious that Tatum stays true to himself.

A guy who has publicly stated his hatred for Boston and a player who defeated him in the 2022 Finals were among the Lakers greats he mentioned. Tatum is refreshingly uninvolved in promoting any particular goals in this interview; he is just being himself.

Aiming to Join Conversations About All-Time Greats, Jayson Tatum

It would appear like Jayson Tatum has the best shot of any young player from this generation to become an all-time great. Aside from superstars like LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Kevin Durant, the vast majority of NBA players are still vying for the title of greatest of all time. Although Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo are well on their way with a title and two most valuable player awards, Tatum could be the most qualified to continue and even exceed their success.

On a Boston Celtics squad that is loaded with talent, Tatum is one of many MVP contenders this year. With the possible exception of the 2020–21 season, he has had a title contender every year since being drafted. Aside from that, the Celtics have tried very hard to win a championship but have been unsuccessful. There is a lot of pressure on him to perform this year because this team is among the best they’ve assembled throughout Tatum’s tenure.

This season, Tatum has averaged xx points. If he can get his act together, he can start leading his club to championships; he has already guided the Celtics to the NBA Finals once and to several conference finals. The squad that Tatum has assembled is unparalleled by any other NBA star, including Luka Doncic; as a result, he may be considered an all-time great in the coming seasons if his team continues to dominate.

People will be quick to cast doubt on Tatum if the Celtics keep losing championships while he’s a part of the team. Much to the disappointment of fans, many players quit and pursue other opportunities after failing to win championships with their current teams. Tatum must quickly bring a championship to Boston in order to cement his place in basketball history; otherwise, he will be unable to claim that he had a bad squad.