Raptors head coach Darko Rajaković sang praises from Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum after his impressive performance in Toronto.
Tatum and Celtics beat the Raptors for their sixth straight victory at Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday.
The 26-year-old will celebrate his 27th next week, with 19 points, six rebounds and 11 assists that night.
Tatum came out of the All-Star Game, with a total of 59 points, 30 assists and 27 rebounds – becoming the third player in team history, with Larry Bird in three games ( Larry Bird and Antoine Walker recorded the numbers together.
With an average of 26.6 points, 8.7 rebounds and 5.8 assists this season, Tatum led the Celtics to score, rebounds, assists, steals and three-pointers.
He also became the fourth player in league history in Tuesday’s victory, scoring 16,000 points before joining LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Kobe Bryan’s 27th birthday (regular season and Playoffs total score).
Rajaković was impressed by what he saw on the night when he mentioned Tatum in his post-match press conference.
“What I’ll tell you: That guy is the best player in the NBA’s best team. The team that won the championship. I don’t think he has enough honor for everything that team did on both ends of the floor.
“Offensively, defensively, we tried different things to him. We tried to thwart him with our bodies. He just kept moving forward and kept making the right decisions.
“They are really lucky to have someone like him. Great player, I’m a very, very loyal fan of him.”
“That guy is the best player in the best team in the NBA.”
– Raptor HC DarkoRajaković highly praised Jayson Tatum pic.twitter.com/hoduf5qqge
– NBA (@NBA) February 26, 2025
According to the best online sports betting, the Celtics’ combined favorite with the Oklahoma City Thunder won the 2025 NBA championship.
If successful, Boston will be the first back-to-back champion since the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018.
Tatum himself is enjoying another great season that has earned him a sixth-place All-Star trial, and he will undoubtedly be an all-NBA first-team for the fourth consecutive year.
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