Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum is establishing himself among the greats in NBA playoff history, as he scored the third most points in the postseason before the age of 27.
Tatum passed Hall of Famer Tony Parker for No. 3 on the NBA’s all-time list and is now behind two of the greatest players of all time: Kobe Bryant (No. 1) and LeBron James (No. 2).
Bryant scored 2,694 points in the playoffs before he turned 27, while James scored 2,578. After a 22-point performance in Game 3 against the Miami Heat, Tatum has 2,309 points. The Celtics superstar will turn 27 on March 3, 2025, meaning this postseason is his last chance to surpass Bryant or James. Fans often joke about Tatum’s young age, as there has been much discussion about his youth and potential since he entered the league.
Tatum scored 615 points in the 2022 NBA playoffs, as Boston came up short against the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals. If the Celtics make the Finals once again, they will have a great shot at the top spot on this list. Tatum is often described as a “playoff loser,” but this statistic directly contradicts those arguments.
Fans did not greet this statistic with enthusiasm, rather pointing out the fact that Tatum has yet to win a title despite playing with teams full of talent. He has made the postseason in all seven years of his career, but only appeared in the Finals once. Not to mention, he has been paired with numerous All-Stars, including Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday and Kyrie Irving.
Individually, Tatum’s career has been phenomenal so far. He is a five-time All-Star, three-time All-NBA selection and averages nearly 24 points and 8 rebounds in his career.
As the Celtics lead the Heat 2-1 in their first-round series, only time will tell if Tatum adds another record (and a ring) to his resume.
