Ahead of the 2024 NBA Finals, former Boston Celtics fan favorite Isaiah Thomas made a significant remark about former and current Celtics Kyrie Irving and Jayson Tatum.
He asserted that the Dallas Mavericks’ Irving and Luka Doncic combo was better than Boston’s Jaylen Brown and Tatum. In an interview with Rachel Nichols and DeMarcus Cousins on the Bully Ball podcast, Thomas was asked if he would place Kyrie Irving ahead of Tatum.
Thomas answered thus when Nichols asked whether he and Cousins would rank Irving ahead of Tatum: “I am… Imma just rock with that.Jayson Tatum and those guys are really good. Jaylen Brown is really good. But Luka and Kyrie are something we haven’t seen. And they have the best duo, like they don’t just have the best player. I feel like they’re the best duo. They just don’t have the best team.”
After spending years with the Cavaliers, Kyrie Irving was moved to the Celtics for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, and Ante Zizic, in the 2018 first-round selection of the Brooklyn Nets.
Thomas also emphasized the uniqueness of the Irving-Doncic combination. He said it presents a basketball dynamic that has never been witnessed before. Before settling in Dallas, Irving and Thomas each made many trips across the league, with Thomas finding it challenging to get a job on an NBA franchise.
Kyrie Irving and Jayson Tatum’s Stats for the 2023–24 Season
According to the NBA, Jayson Tatum averaged 26.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.9 assists on 47.1% shooting. In the 2024 playoffs, he sustained this level of play, averaging 26.0 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 5.9 assists on 44.2% shooting.
However, Kyrie Irving shot 41.1% from 3-point range and 49.7% from the field during the regular season, averaging 25.6 points, 5.2 assists, and 5.0 rebounds in 58 games.
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He has been averaging 22.8 points, 5.2 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game in the playoffs this year. Irving scored 21 points per game in his two regular-season meetings versus Tatum and the Celtics. Tatum averaged 35.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists in the Celtics’ victories in both games versus the Mavericks.
Tatum has the most individual numbers, but Irving has more NBA Finals experience and a track record of winning. He has averaged 27.7 points, 4.2 assists, and 4.2 rebounds in 13 Finals games while playing.
Also Read: “I Wish”- Luka Doncic Regrets For Not Playing Longer With Mavericks Legend Dirk Nowitzki
