The stage is set for the 2024 NBA Finals, a clash between the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks. For Jayson Tatum, this series is a chance to win a first championship ring as a professional and deliver Boston a coveted 18th banner. And though it would be a massive step forward in his career, Tatum is already on a special trajectory regardless of the outcome.
The NBA’s current guard is getting ready to exit stage left, and soon players like LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Kevin Durant will retire. Already debates concerning the next “face of the league” have swirled as people begin to imagine a new hierarchy of NBA stardom. Media and fans alike pore over advanced analytics and squeeze every data point to support their position with bared teeth and steely resolve. With the hot take economy churning like never before, every statistic, every award, and every game seems to be a referendum on a player’s status in that pecking order.
But this sort of analysis misses the point of what it really means to be the brightest star in the NBA galaxy. Superstardom is about much more than personal accolades or getting buckets. Take a step back and it becomes clear. This is Jayson Tatum’s league now.