Jayson Tatum is knocking on the door of joining the NBA’s absolute superstars but there is one more entry needed on his resume before he can truly be classed among the best of the best.
The Boston forward is an established All-Star, an elite scoring threat and has shown himself to be the face of the franchise in taking the Celtics to the verge of an NBA championship.
But he needs to get his team to the trophy to ascend to the highest level.
Trailing 3-2 in the NBA Finals to Golden State heading into game six on Friday morning (AEST), the odds are against Tatum.
He played strongly in the proverbially pivotal game five in San Francisco with 27 points, 10 rebounds and four assists, hitting 10 of 20 from the field, including five of his nine three-point attempts.
Tatum, who is knocking on the door of the NBA’s top tier of talent, played a lone hand and ultimately not enough to prevent a 104-94 as the Warriors surged late.
Now that we are one or two games away from the end of the season, here are the tiers for the NBA’s best players for 2021-22, split into the top 75 players in the league in honour of the 75th anniversary season.
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
NBA’s top tier: Truly elite who don’t need to prove no nothing to no one no how
This “elite eight” are the players who have rings, MVPs or the ability to put their team in title contention simply by being on the roster.
Kevin Durant
Steph Curry
Giannis Antetekounmpo
Nikola Jokic
Joel Embiid
LeBron James
Kawhi Leonard
Luka Doncic
James Harden has dropped out of this elite tier with his modest returns and effort at Brooklyn and Philadelphia this year, likewise Anthony Davis at the Lakers. Damian Lillard is another on the way down while Luka Doncic and Joel Embiid are on the rise after impressive 2021-22 campaigns which were only halted early in the playoffs by their mediocre support casts.
(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Tier 2: Automatic All-Stars one step away from game-changing greatness
There’s 11 on the outside looking in who are either on the decline like Davis, Lillard and Chris Paul (mainly in the playoffs) or on the fast track to greatness like Ja Morant, Devin Booker and Karl-Anthony Towns.
Jayson Tatum
Anthony Davis
Damian Lillard
Ja Morant
Jimmy Butler
Devin Booker
Chris Paul
Trae Young
Donovan Mitchell
Paul George
Karl-Anthony Towns
Lillard and Donovan Mitchell are the two most likely players in this tier who could be on the move, location wise, before or during next season although they are likely to give it one more try at Portland or Utah respectively before seeking greener pastures.
(Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
Tier 3: Fringe All-Stars on the way up or down
Harden is now not even a guaranteed All-Star. This tier is the most eclectic mix. There’s a mix of ageing stars who don’t have the consistent output they once did due to injuries or a drop in form – Harden, Bradley Beal, Klay Thompson, stars ascending – Jaylen Brown, Darius Garland, Dejounte Murray and Pascal Siakam, and absolute wildcards who have limitless potential – Zion Williamson, LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards.
James Harden
Bradley Beal
Jaylen Brown
DeMar DeRozan
Bam Adebayo
Draymond Green
Zion Williamson
Zach LaVine
Rudy Gobert
Khris Middleton
Jrue Holiday
Darius Garland
Dejounte Murray
Pascal Siakam
Klay Thompson
Brandon Ingram
LaMelo Ball
Fred VanVleet
Jarrett Allen
Anthony Edwards
There’s also a few guys who have plateaued in this tier for several seasons who don’t need to be a star to be immensely valuable like Milwaukee duo Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton, Draymond Green and DeMar DeRozan.
(Photo by James Devaney/Getty Images)
Tier 4: Not consistent enough to be rated higher
The most frustrating tier in the NBA. These are the players who have shown flashes of brilliance over weeks and months, but not over seasons. Ben Simmons is the epitome of this – a very fine output each season over the course of six years in Philadelphia but zero to go by over the past 12 months due to, well, you know. Or you don’t know. No one really knows but him. He’s got a lot to prove next season at Brooklyn.
Domantas Sabonis
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Ben Simmons
Julius Randle
DeAndre Ayton
Jamal Murray
CJ McCollum
Andrew Wiggins
Tyler Herro
Jaren Jackson jnr
Jerami Grant
John Collins
Mikal Bridges
De’Aaron Fox
Andrew Wiggins would have struggled to be as high as this tier before the playoffs but you could make a case that he’s now probably too low after his post-season efforts for the Warriors, particularly in game five of the Finals against the Celtics. But, unfortunately, that has been the knock on him throughout his career – if he displays that sort of class consistently next season, he will become a long-term All-Star.
Marcus Smart. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Tier 5: Best of the Rest
This was actually a group of 16 when first going through the names but six more needed to make a nice list in synch with the 75th anniversary. Russell Westbrook is charitably still in this tier although his future looks bleak based on last season at the Lakers. They will try to trade him in the off-season but it’s extremely difficult to see where he could end up that isn’t a lottery team looking to acquire his bloated contract in exchange for additional draft picks.
Russell Westbrook
Cade Cunningham
Evan Mobley
Scottie Barnes
Miles Bridges
Nikola Vucevic
Michael Porter jnr
Tobias Harris
Clint Capela
Malcolm Brogdon
Gordon Hayward
Mike Conley
Kyle Lowry
Jonas Valančiūnas
OG Anunoby
Marcus Smart
Marcus Smart is another whose stock is soaring again after his playoff performances for the Celtics. It’s easy to forget Kristaps Porzingis was an All-Star at New York just a few seasons ago but has now been traded away by Dallas to the career purgatory known as a stint at the Washington Wizards. So much talent but he looks like this generation’s Christian Laettner as someone who never fulfill his potential.
Kristaps Porzingis
Tyrese Haliburton
Desmond Bane
Myles Turner
D’Angelo Russell
Jordan Poole
NBA Finals schedule
Game 6 at TD Garden: Friday, June 17 at 11am AEST
Game 7 (if required) at Chase Center: Monday, June 19 at 10am AEST
.kraM
Roar Rookie
:crying:
Paul Suttor
Expert
Brown had a solid game, the other three things didn't quite turn out like you'd hoped. Warriors were pretty damn good though
Paul Suttor
Expert
he's definitely not in the top tier now afte going missing in Game 6!
astro
Roar Rookie
Yeah, it felt like move forward this year, but then Game 3 happens against the Grizz and I dont know what to think about him!
Paul Suttor
Expert
KAT is so freakin frustrating. He's got the talent to dominate but he seems to lack the killer instinct. This season was a major step in the right direction but it wouldn't surprise if he doesn't kick on next year
Davico
Roar Pro
Tatum has gone soft in the Finals. He is not top 10
astro
Roar Rookie
Great effort Paul! These lists are never easy... I know a lot of these lists are subjective, but the only one that stands out to me is KAT. I cant see a way he ever gets to a level of greatness. I think he's a fringe All-Star and that's about it. The same is probably true of Donovan Mitchell, but think he needs this year to prove what he can do.
.kraM
Roar Rookie
Just need JB and JT to have solid games, limit the TO’s and get production off the bench then there’s no reason C’s can’t tie it up.