Jayson Tatum’s Top-30 NBA Player Ranking By The Ringer Has Fans Divided originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Ringer just released brand new NBA player rankings, and Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum landed at No. 29. For the record, Jaylen Brown landed at No. 11.
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Tatum’s ranking immediately caused passionate discourse among NBA fans, with some feeling that Tatum doesn’t deserve such a ranking having only played in a handful of games this season and still rounding into basketball shape.
At the same time, Tatum has shown flashes of brilliance for Boston since coming back, and he’s clearly still helping them win games and performing as an effective, All-Star-type talent, even if he’s not 100 percent yet.
“Tatum’s long-awaited reentry into the NBA has surpassed even the most optimistic outlooks,” The Ringer’s Justin Verrier wrote. “After just 10 months on the shelf following surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles, the All-NBA mainstay is not only playing nearly 30 minutes a night, but his per-minute production through his first eight appearances is more or less in line with where he left off last regular season.”
“The question now is how long Boston fans can suppress their wild imaginations,” Verrier continued. “Tatum’s size and playmaking made an instant impact and have been major assets for an offense that—even though it was second in the league without him—could use both to round out its deep bench of wing shooters. But he’s still shaking some rust off his jump shot: While Tatum hasn’t hesitated pulling from deep, he’s had only one good perimeter shooting performance so far. But that’s kind of the only major hurdle to clear, save for the sort of quick start-stop movements one worries about with all athletes after an Achilles tear.”
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“The East looks open enough that even Tatum in his current state might swing things the Celtics’ way,” Verrier added. “If he can push beyond that? Somebody get me a cold compress.”
Tatum made his 2025-26 debut on March 6. Through nine games played, the Celtics superstar is averaging 19.1 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 30.3 minutes per game. He has shot 39.1 percent from the field and 30.9 percent from three-point range.
Tatum opened his return with 15 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists against Dallas. In his most recent outing on Wednesday night, he posted 19 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists and three steals in a 119-109 victory over Oklahoma City.
Boston sits at 48-24, second in the Eastern Conference. Tatum’s steady contributions have added depth to a roster already positioned for a strong postseason run.
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