Paul Pierce believes that Tatum has eclipsed Durant and Curry.

The 2023–24 NBA season for Jayson Tatum is off to a scorching start. Tatum’s Boston Celtics are currently the best team in the NBA with an 11-3 record, despite their unexpected overtime loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Monday night. Tatum also had an outstanding performance at the Spectrum Center.

Tatum has continued his success from the 2022–2023 season, when he averaged over thirty points each game. A former Celtics great seems to think that the 25-year-old is the finest American-born player in the NBA before the Olympic Games next year, based on his performances.

Pierce: The only other American player who could be superior is Curry.

Paul Pierce stated that only Golden State’s Stephen Curry can truly challenge Jayson Tatum as the best American player in the Association “right now” during an interview with former colleague Kevin Garnett on the most recent episode of “Ticket and the Truth”.

As Curry, Kevin Durant, and LeBron James continue to rule the NBA despite having a combined 52 years of experience, Pierce’s perspective is sure to spark debate and controversy. Although Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns does not have an MVP award on his record, some would argue that he should be included in that discussion as well.

Tatum and the other three players have indicated their desire to compete for the United States in the Paris Summer Olympics in 2024. All of the players will probably be on the squad come summer, when the United States is a strong favorite to win the gold medal.

Is Tatum a possible MVP?

Since Larry Bird in 1986, no player from the Boston Celtics has won the NBA MVP award. However, if Tatum continues on his current path, he might break that drought this season.

Tatum is making a compelling case for the league’s top individual award through 14 games played, and winning it would support Pierce’s arguments. Tatum has shot a career-high 51 percent from the field and 38 percent from three-point range while averaging 28.2 points and nine rebounds per game. As a unit, the Celtics are on pace to win 64 games, which would be a record high since 2008, when they last won the NBA championship.