Jayson Tatum Ranks No. 24 on ESPN’s Top 100

At No. 24 overall, Jayson Tatum is the second-highest ranking Celtic on the list of ESPN's Top 100 NBA players heading into his sophomore season.

Tatum showed up and showed out last season for the Celtics. I wasn't big on drafting Tatum last summer, but God, am I glad I was wrong. The rookie put together a very complete and very efficient first season in Boston.

He was strong defensively and smooth offensively. By the end of the year, it was very clear that Tatum is something special. This was most evident in the playoffs when Tatum went on a tear.

Tatum basically became the Celtics No. 1 offensive weapon in the playoffs. He was their closer as well. He averaged 18.5 points per game in 19 playoff games. That doesn't sound like just any 19-year-old kid playing in a league of men.

Speaking of men, he threw down one of the most aggressive dunks in NBA history on LeBron James himself. It's not every day you see a 19-year-old with no fear, but that's Tatum. You don't meet arguably the best player of all time at the rim, throw it down on him, and then taunt him if you're afraid.

Heading into this season it makes perfect sense that the league, NBA fans and analysts have taken notice. I myself asked at the end of the season, "Who has Tatum pushed out of the Celtics new big three?" According to ESPN's top 100 list, he's pushed out both Al Horford and Gordon Hayward, as he ranks higher than both of them.

The only player yet to be revealed on the list from the Celtics is Kyrie Irving.