The Truth believes Jayson Tatum has surpassed Durant and LeBron as the best American players in the NBA today.

Paul Pierce says Jayson Tatum is the best American player - Basketball Network - Your daily dose of basketball

The NBA of today is dominated by international talent. Nikola Jokic, the 2023 Finals MVP and two-time NBA MVP, is perhaps the best player in the world right now, and he is Serbian. Joel Embiid, the 2023 NBA MVP, is from Cameroon, whereas Giannis Antetokounmpo, the 2021 Finals MVP and two-time MVP, is from Greece. Meanwhile, Luka Doncic, a four-time All-NBA First Team selection, is Slovenian.

As far as the best American player in the NBA right now, that distinction belongs to Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics, that is, if you ask Boston Celtics Hall of Famer Paul Pierce.

“I already thought Joker is the best player right now,” said Pierce during the latest episode of the KG Certified podcast. “He’s the best overall just overall but the best American player is Jayson Tatum. And I don’t really see, outside of Curry, it’s not really a decent argument I feel that anybody can give.”

JT is better than KD and Bron

Pierce says Kevin Durant is still producing 30 points per game in his mid-30s while LeBron James is having a fantastic Year 21 campaign. However, in the last couple of years, Tatum’s body of work clearly puts him on top of KD and ‘Bron right now.

“Right now, the best American in the league is Jayson Tatum,” added Pierce. “You look at his growth and what he’s done over the past couple of years, he’s been First-team All-NBA, hit you with the 55 in the All-Star, hit you with another 50 in Game 7 versus Philly, and I’m looking around. I think he’s passed KD, I think he’s passed LeBron, I mean today. You know what I’m saying? And I think the only argument you really got, maybe is Steph.”

Aside from his individual accolades and big scoring games, Tatum has also turned the Celtics into NBA elite. During JT’s six seasons in Beantown, he guided the team to Conference finals four times, with a Finals appearance in 2022. Boston was two wins away from winning the chip that year, and last season, they were one win away from returning to the Finals.

Tatum trained with Pierce during the summer
Although Pierce has a good case for Tatum, his pick may be influenced by the fact that both of them are Boston Celtics superstars and because he took him under his wings when they trained together during the summer.

“It’s an honor. He’s one of the top 5 players in the league… I’m there really just on some support and just to see his growth. I mean, he’s already at the top of the food chain,” Pierce said. “So, I’m just part of being a support system. That’s it.”

Tatum is currently averaging 28.2 points, 9.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.1 steals per game this season. His Celtics are now on top of the league standings with an 11-3 record. They are the oddsmakers’ favorites to win the 2024 NBA championship.

He has been an All-Star in the last four years and the All-NBA First Team in the previous two. Last season, he was the only All-NBA First team member born in the United States. So yeah, Pierce may be speaking the truth here.