Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum
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BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MARCH 12: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics looks on before a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the TD Garden on March 12, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images)
The Boston Celtics walked away from TD Garden on Friday night with their highest-scoring performance of the season. They put up 148 points against the Brooklyn Nets in a game that featured historic shooting efficiency and offensive execution at every level.
Jaylen Brown continued his form, putting up 28 points. Nikola Vucevic matched that total with his best performance since joining Boston. The final score was 148-111, and the margin never felt that close.
Hours before tipoff, a former Celtic weighed in on a debate that has followed this franchise throughout the Jayson Tatum era. Grant Williams, who spent four seasons in Boston before moving to Dallas and now Charlotte, addressed the comparisons between Tatum and Luka Doncic during an appearance on the Club 520 podcast.
Williams Delivers His Take on Tatum vs. Luka
Williams played alongside both stars during his career. He was part of the Celtics team that reached the NBA Finals with Tatum in 2022, and he spent time with Doncic at the Dallas Mavericks during the 2023-24 season before being traded to the Charlotte Hornets.
His perspective carries weight because he has seen both players up close. When asked to compare them, Williams shared his take.
“JT impacts winning more,” Williams said. “The way he impacts winning is unprecedented. He impacts the game at every facet. He can defend, he’s a playmaker, he can score. He’s a 6’10 wing that can do it all.”
Williams made clear he was not dismissing what Doncic brings to the floor. He praised the Mavericks star’s offensive brilliance during his time in Dallas.
“The talent that I saw playing with Luca is absurd,” Williams said. “He’s nice. I’ve never had that many open shots since playing with Luka in my life.”
The 2024 NBA Finals illustrated the two-way impact that shaped Williams’ assessment. Tatum led Boston in scoring, assists and rebounds while also guarding Dallas centers Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford to neutralize the Mavericks’ pick-and-roll attack.
Boston targeted Doncic defensively throughout that series. They did the same thing in their most recent matchup, a 111-89 victory for the Celtics at Crypto.com Arena.
What Tatum Brings Beyond the Numbers
Tatum has been sidelined since suffering an Achilles injury last season. The Celtics hold an impressive 39-20 record in his absence, with Jaylen Brown posting career highs of 29.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game to carry the offensive load.
Boston has depth. They have shown they can compete at a high level without their best player. But the two-way impact Tatum provides is what separates contenders from champions.
Williams’ point about Tatum’s impact goes beyond the numbers. It is about the defensive versatility that allows Joe Mazzulla to switch schemes mid-series based on matchups. The willingness to guard anyone from point guards to centers when the game plan demands it. The playmaking that elevates teammates without forcing his own offense.
Doncic remains one of the league’s most gifted offensive players. But his defensive limitations have followed him throughout his career. The Lakers sit sixth in the Western Conference despite his production.
Tatum’s ability to dominate on both ends is what Williams emphasized in drawing his conclusion.
Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
GettyJayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
The Celtics’ Path Forward
Boston faces the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday night at TD Garden. Tatum’s return timeline remains uncertain, though reports suggest he could be cleared to play sometime in March if his rehabilitation continues progressing.
The Celtics are 39-20 without him. Brown has carried them offensively. The depth has held up. But Williams knows the difference between regular season success and championship runs.
He was part of the 2022 team that fell two wins short in the Finals. That experience informs his perspective on what it takes to win at that level. The two-way versatility Tatum provides is what separates good teams from champions.
Final Word for the Celtics
Grant Williams delivered his take on the Jayson Tatum versus Luka Doncic debate from a perspective few others have. He has played with both. He has seen what each brings to winning basketball.
Tatum impacts winning at a level that few players in the league can match, according to Williams. The defense, the playmaking, the scoring, the willingness to guard anyone when the game plan calls for it. All of it matters.
Boston is 39-20 without him this season. They have found ways to compete at the top of the Eastern Conference despite losing their best player. That depth and resilience will matter when Tatum returns.
The Celtics need him back to make a real championship run. And when he does return, the blueprint Williams described will be exactly what carries them through.