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Colin Cowherd casts doubt on Tatum's championship odds

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum. Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Colin Cowherd casts doubt over Jayson Tatum's championship odds

By Adam Taylor | Last updated 1/5/24

Jayson Tatum is the Boston Celtics star player. He is a two-time All-NBA forward and a four-time All-Star. He is 25 years old, which means he's still a year or two away from his prime.

Throughout his career in Boston, Tatum has amassed 94 games worth of playoff experience. He has also played in an NBA Finals series against the Golden State Warriors.

Judging by his career trajectory, it would appear that a championship ring is on the horizon for the talented forward. Especially given his team-first mentality and commitment to sacrificing so that his teammates can thrive.

However, analyst Colin Cowherd isn't of that opinion. He believes Tatum's championship window is already closing despite his consistent success since entering the NBA.

"He had about a two-year window to win a title," Cowherd said. "Because now he's gotta go through Giannis in his prime. Jokic is in his prime. Luka is moving into his prime. Wemby is three years from his prime. SGA is entering his prime. And I'm not sure he's as good as any of those guys...Tatum was not ready when he first entered the league. Not as good as LeBron, not as good as Steph, not as good as the old guard. And now he's not as good as the young guard."

"Tatum was not ready when he first got into the league... Now he's not as good as the young guard."

— @ColinCowherd wonders if Jayson Tatum missed his championship window pic.twitter.com/o11iz5vg0U
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) January 5, 2024

The Celtics currently hold the best record in the NBA. They're also viewed as the most talented team in the league in terms of their top-eight rotation.

Tatum is at the forefront of that. He's their star player. Unlike many of the names Cowherd mentioned, he can play defense at an elite level, he can create for others and he is an All-NBA-level offensive talent.

It's also very easy to point at high-level talent and assume they're going to be successful at a championship level. Yet, in reality, winning in the NBA is a team endeavor, and not every elite talent finds themselves in a position to achieve that kind of success.

Carmelo Anthony is one of the greatest scorers in league history. He retired without a championship. Chris Paul is one of the top three point guards the NBA has ever seen; he hasn't won a ring.

Teams and situations matter. Tatum is in one of the best situations in the NBA. Boston will continue to be among the contending teams in the league for the foreseeable future.

Assuming he can stay injury-free and the Celtics keep their current core together, it's fair to envision Tatum winning one or more championships in the coming years. His window is far from closed. In fact, it's only just opening.

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