It's a given that when the current season started, almost no one gave a damn about Jayson Tatum and the Celtics. During that time late last year, this was practically imploding as their record and the way they were performing didn't really give them the reputation of being performers. But then, something changed and this Eastern Conference team was suddenly rising through the rankings. Now, they're on the cusp of eliminating Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets and moving on to the second round.
Of course, one of the biggest factors to Boston's success is their All-Star forward's improvement as his team's number one option. This, in turn, has positively affected the standing of Jayson Tatum rookie cards in the market. We take a look down below at why his stock is a pretty good investment for card collectors now.
Jayson Tatum's prime is starting very soon
It's hard to believe that the Celtics' All-Star forward is just 23 years old and already playing his fifth season in the NBA. And during those five years, NBA card collectors saw how Tatum evolved from a rookie possessing tons of potential to a number one option for Boston who's about to enter his prime soon.
https://twitter.com/JTMUSE/status/1518336548466401281
Speaking of Tatum's time as a rookie, it's pretty hard to imagine that the then-19-year-old averaged a measly 13.9 points, 5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1 steal per game. Since then, the Celtics have gone on to appear in the Eastern Conference Finals within the span of five years. This year, though, the chances of Boston making it back, and even reaching the NBA Finals, are looking good, thanks to Tatum's performance this season.
In the 76 games Tatum has played this season, he averaged 26.9 points on 45% shooting from the field, 35% from beyond the arc, and 85% from the free throw line. Along with his shot efficiency, the forward also made 8 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and a single steal in 36 minutes per contest. And while these numbers look great for the Celtics, it's his recent Game 4 performance against Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets that's making the case for Tatum.
CELTICS SWEEP NETS 🧹
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown lead Boston in Game 4 to knock out the Nets in the first round pic.twitter.com/IoB4bolGvG
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 26, 2022
In that game, the Celtics' All-Star drained 9 of his 16 field goal attempts and went 4-of-6 from the three-point line to post 29 points in 36 minutes. He also added 5 assists and 3 rebounds to help Boston sweep the Nets with a 116-112 victory.
As it stands, Tatum's ascension to the league's upper tier is all but certain, especially after besting Kevin Durant in a playoff series. This entry into his prime will bode those Jayson Tatum cards well as he gets better and better in the coming years.
Jayson Tatum's chances of becoming the next face of the NBA are pretty good
During the 90s, Michael Jordan reigned as the NBA's top star. After he retired for good, the next in line was Kobe Bryant during the 2000s and LeBron James during the 2010s. The thing is, the latter is aging and the Los Angeles Lakers' star will eventually retire sooner than later. This is where Jayson Tatum can come in and fight for his chance to become the league's next face.
As it stands, there are only a handful of young stars that possess the talent and charisma to become the league's top guy. This short list includes the likes of Ja Morant, Luka Doncic, and Tatum himself.
Too late, Skip. This man @jaytatum0 already is the next Face of the NBA – oh and Team USA too! pic.twitter.com/BnokCX7583
— Your Cousin from Boston's Cousin from Western MA (@Celt_Ike) April 19, 2022
Diving deeper into these three, one would see that Morant is built like Allen Iverson and Russell Westbrook before him while Doncic's all-around game resembles that of LeBron James. Meanwhile, of the three, Tatum has the potential to mix Bryant's competitiveness with Durant's elite scoring ability to create a potent new template upon which the NBA's primary star can be based on.
Add the fact that Boston's future is looking brighter than it ever has been and the chance of Tatum inheriting James' throne is getting stronger. If that happens, collectors can expect those Jayson Tatum cards, especially his rookie stock, to burst through the roof and into the sky faster than anyone can anticipate.
The state of Jayson Tatum sports cards in the market
Without a doubt, Jayson Tatum rookie cards have been on a rampage these past few months. The best example that proves this upward trend is no other than his PSA 10 2017 Prizm Silver rookie card and how it has risen in the market.
According to a three-month graph by Card Ladder, the card's value has improved by 60% from $1,050 to $1,684. That growth occurred over the course of 77 sales on eBay.
The data above reflects Tatum's impressive performance through the second half of the regular season, and even as the Celtics get past the Nets and advance to the second round of the playoffs. With his solid development on both ends of the floor, and even as a leader for the Boston Celtics, there's really little argument left on why collectors should invest in the All-Star's stock in the NBA card market.
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