The initial reviews of Jayson Tatum’s debut with the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Summer League have been glowing.
The former Chaminade College Prep All-American in his first five games as the Celtics have played in the Utah Summer League in Salt Lake City and the Las Vegas Summer League.
In three games in Utah, Tatum averaged 18.7 points, 9.7 rebounds and shot 47 percent from the field. In his first game in Las Vegas, Tatum put up 27 points and 11 rebounds in the Celtics’ victory over the Los Angeles Lakers summer league entry in front of a packed house at the Thomas & Mack Center at UNLV.
Tatum has been getting buckets in a variety of ways, from step-back jumpers, mid-post fadeaways and slashing moves to the basket. His offensive game looks quite advanced for someone who is only 19 years old. Tatum’s stellar Summer League play has not gone unnoticed by members of the Celtics’ organization.
“He reminds me of a young Paul Pierce,” said assistant coach Walter McCarty to Boston.com, after Tatum’s 27-point performance against the Lakers. “He has that ability just to be cool. He doesn’t get too frantic. He just lets the game come to him. And he’s got a quiet swag about him.”
“He kind of has an old soul, with a pro-like approach,” said Celtics Summer League coach to the Boston Herald. “He doesn’t get rattled or show a lot of emotion.”
In his debut, Tatum scored 21 points, grabbed nine rebounds and scored the game-winning basket on a 17-foot jumper in the Celtics’ 88-87 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. He also added 23 points, 10 rebounds and two assists against the San Antonio Spurs.
Tatum was the Celtics’ No. 3 pick in the NBA Draft in late June.
