Top 100 NBA players — 10. Jayson Tatum, Celtics
The Celtics have arrived once more in the conversation of Eastern Conference contenders. The primary reason is Jayson Tatum, a player who will crack a few MVP ballots this season, and possibly top an MVP ballot in the near future. The polish on his skill set at 24 years old is virtually unheard of. Footwork, craft, pace, touch — Tatum has mastered it all. He’s one of the most dangerous wing scorers in the NBA, with very few concrete solutions to defending him.
As recently as early this season, Tatum was marred by critics who doubted whether he could lead a team to contention — whether his play style was beneficial to those in his immediate orbit. The past couple months have provided us with a pretty definitive answer. The Celtics are steamrolling teams, in large part due to Tatum’s all-around impact offensively. He’s making better reads as a passer, doing even more as a scorer, and providing the Celtics’ elite supporting cast with the kind of elite-level superstar you need to win a championship in the NBA.
Top 100 NBA players — 9. Chris Paul, Suns
The Point God lives on, and he will not die. The Suns are the best team in the NBA by an absurd margin when Chris Paul is on the court. A 36-year-old, 6-foot point guard showcasing this kind of longevity is virtually unheard of. Paul is just playing into his late 30s — he’s dominating into his late 30s, and positioning himself for what could be a second consecutive NBA Finals run.
Paul doesn’t post the flashiest numbers, but he never has. He lets the game come to him, picking and choosing his spots as a scorer while leading the league in assists. That, of course, is not enough to encapsulate the extent of Paul’s value. He has provided immeasurable value as a leader both on and off the court in Phoenix. The Suns are probably good without Paul, but they don’t rise to the status of potential juggernaut that they currently occupy without Paul’s arrival.