NBA fans are often known for their very candid opinions that they put out in their personal interviews, especially regarding their mentality and approach to the game.
Very recently, NBA superstar Jayson Tatum sat down with ESPN’s Malika Andrews to talk about life and basketball. A certain opinion from Jayson Tatum, however, has caught the attention of NBA fans, who reacted wildly to the player’s statements.
Malika Andrews gets caught in the firing line after Jayson Tatum’s bold claim
NBA player Jayson Tatum sat down with ESPN’s Malika Andrews to talk about the various happenings in the league regarding the Boston Celtics and his legacy as a basketball player. During the interview, Tatum established himself as the best player in the league when he asked about Andrews’ feat.
Notably, the two personalities had a similar sitdown last year, which featured Tatum calling Giannis Antetokounmpo the best player in the league. However, this time around, Tatum did not hesitate in the slightest when he referred to himself as the best player in the league. “I got a lot of respect for a lot of guys in this league. Giannis for sure, Jokic, obviously, just won, Embiid, guys who’ve won MVPs. The list goes on. The league is in a great place. I truly do believe every night I step out on the floor that I’m the best player.”
While Tatum’s statements were filled with confidence and dominance, fans mocked him for his candid approach, and interviewer Malika Andrews got caught in the crossfire of fans’ comments. NBA fans roasted the player on social media, calling him out for his confidence, which many fans suggested was a consequence of Malika Andrews’ influence on the player.
A fan said, “They need to stop letting Malika interview players they always start gassing themself too much.”
Another fan shared the same opinion, saying, “NBA players sit around Malika and start capping,” referring to Tatum’s towering confidence.
Another fan suggested that while Tatum’s confidence was to be respected, it had to be regarded as an opinion. The fan said, “He’s not top 10 sadly. I respect the confidence though.”
This season, Jayson Tatum’s Boston Celtics sit comfortably at the 1st seed in the Eastern Conference, while Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Bucks trail the Celtics, sitting in third place.
Jayson Tatum vs. Giannis Antetokounmpo: Who is having a better season?
Having established himself as the best player in the league by himself, Tatum took the crown from Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was previously Jayson Tatum’s selection for the best player in the league.
As we take a look at who is having a better season, the stat that stands out is that both players are locked at 1-1 in their head-to-head matchups. While Tatum’s confidence can push him a long way, the numbers provide a story that Tatum wouldn’t be interested in hearing. While Jayson Tatum’s Boston Celtics seem to be having a better season than Antetokounmpo’s Bucks, the individual comparison easily highlights the edge that Giannis has over the 25-year-old superstar.
This season, Jayson Tatum has been averaging a massive 27.6 points per game, coupled along with 8.6 rebounds and 4.8 assists. There is no doubt that Tatum’s brilliance has helped the Celtics reach widespread success this success. Meanwhile, Giannis Antetokounmpo has been dominating the court for the Bucks amidst their chaotic administrative changes that have led to a break of flow in the spectacular run they were on. The Greek Freak is averaging 30.8 points per game this season, along with 11.2 rebounds and 6.4 assists. Interestingly, the Greek superstar also a better efficiency from the field than Tatum having a field goal percentage of 61.6% over Tatum’s 47.5%.
That being said, either player has been dominant for their respective teams providing much need strength and resilience through their respective playstyles.
What are your thoughts on Jayson Tatum this season? As he suggests, is he a better player than Antetokounmpo this season? We are eager to know your thoughts and opinions on the comparisons, so feel free to comment below.
