'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#7 Jayson Tatum - Boston Celtics
It was a close call between the Celtics duo of two-way studs (Tatum and Jaylen Brown), but we go with the rookie for the simple reason that a player only 60 games into his NBA career should not be this good on the defensive end of the floor. At the same point last season, Jaylen was nowhere in the conversation of the NBA's best perimeter defenders.
Trending
Jayson Tatum's offensive stats may have hit a rookie wall and hit the ground after a spell of over 2 months when he led the league in 3-point percentage, but he remains one of their most valuable defenders.
Explore the NBA Draft 2024 with our free NBA Mock Draft Simulator & be the GM of your favorite NBA team.
He has the lateral quickness to cover point guards on switches, while he also has the basketball IQ to cover opposition power forwards for long periods of the game. When the Celtics switch to their Death lineup of Irving, Rozier, Brown, Tatum, and Horford in 4th quarters, it is generally the rookie who picks up the tougher assignment on the night.
His defensive rating of 100.2 ranks 10th among all perimeter players and 2nd among small forwards.
Boston Celtics Nation! You can check out the latest Boston Celtics Schedule and dive into the Celtics Depth Chart for NBA Season 2024-25.
