Shannon Sharpe’s Viewpoint on Jayson Tatum Takes a U-Turn After All-NBA First Team Player Recorded Lowest FG% in Finals

Shannon sharpe slams Jayson TatumShannon Sharpe and Jayson Tatum (Image source: Getty Images)
In recent discussions surrounding the Boston Celtics, there has been a shift in perception regarding the team’s top player. While Jayson Tatum has long been considered the main star, Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd recently endorsed Jaylen Brown for the title. This sentiment was echoed by Shannon Sharpe during a segment on “First Take.”.

The former NFL player openly expressed his changing viewpoint on Tatum’s status within the team.

“At the beginning of the year, and even going into these playoffs, I said Jayson Tatum. I can no longer say that with any degree of certainty right now,” Sharpe said.

While Tatum had a solid regular season and playoff performance, questions arose when Brown was awarded the Eastern Conference Finals MVP. Since then, Brown’s consistent performance has captivated fans, proving his scoring prowess. Conversely, Tatum has demonstrated his defensive excellence.

In their last game, JB recorded 21 points, four rebounds, seven assists, and three steals. Tatum’s stat line boasted 18 points, nine rebounds, 12 assists, and two steals in Game 2 of the NBA finals.

 

Jayson Tatum’s Field Goal Percentage Plummets in NBA Finals

Throughout Game 1 and 2 of the NBA Finals, Jayson Tatum faced significant struggles on the offensive end. With an average of 17.0 points per game (PPG) and attempting 19.0 field goals per game (FGA), Tatum encountered difficulties finding his rhythm on the court. Nevertheless, what truly stands out is his field goal percentage, which plummeted to a mere 31.6%.

This statistic is particularly noteworthy as it marks the lowest FG% by an All-NBA First Team player in the Finals since 1960. Considering Tatum’s entire career in the NBA Finals, his FG% sits at 35.4%. This statistic makes Tatum’s shooting performance the worst since the NBA/ABA merger, taking into account players with a minimum of 150 attempts.