During the Las Vegas Summer League, Boston Celtics rookie forward Jayson Tatum had a strong showing in the handful of games that he played.
This has inherently had a major impact on the betting odds for the 2017-18 Rookie of the Year award, with Tatum leaping over Philadelphia 76ers point guard Markelle Fultz, who was the first overall pick in this year's draft.
In @BovadaLV’s updated Rookie of the Year odds, Jayson Tatum now has better odds than Markelle Fultz. pic.twitter.com/NgIquhESE0
— Chris Forsberg (@ChrisForsberg_) July 18, 2017
In all fairness, Fultz was only able to play in one full game in Summer League action. This prevented him from further showcasing his ability on the floor and build on his strong 17-point performance in the 76ers' first Summer League contest.
Meanwhile, Tatum proved to be quite a capable scorer averaging 17.7 points on 42.2 percent shooting from the field along with eight rounds in three games played. He displayed the ability to create his own shot off the dribble while scoring from various areas on the floor that should all translate well in the NBA.
The 19-year-old also has an opportunity to niche out a solid role with the Celtics in his rookie campaign, but the amount of offensive responsibility may be limited given the offensive talent on the roster. He will have to find a scoring role behind the team's big three of Isaiah Thomas, Gordon Hayward, and Al Horford.
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