BOSTON - Last season, the Boston Celtics experienced the worst-case scenario. One would think that, with the return of Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward, the team would be unstoppable. Instead, the chemistry faults were palpable and Irving actually seemed to derail the development of the young star wings of the Celtics, Jayson Tatum, and Jaylen Brown.

This season, however, has been the best-case scenario for Boston. With Irving and Al Horford gone, many expected the Celtics to regress. Instead, they have flourished and have become one of the top contenders for a championship. This is partly because of the role Kemba Walker has played in buoying the team this year. It's also because Jayson Tatum is a superstar now.

Just take a look at Jayson Tatum's last three games, all of which have been Celtics wins, as shared by the Boston Globe. Against the Lakers, Trail Blazers, and Jazz, Tatum has put up 36.7 points per game, which would be remarkable enough, even if he was not doing it on 62.9 percent shooting. Best of all? He's shooting 62.5 percent from three-point range. Frankly, Tatum is unstoppable right now. He scores whenever he wants to and it seems like his meteoric rise is symbolic of the potential that's been in him all along: the potential to truly be one of the league's best.

Watching the Celtics offense run through Tatum is nothing short of euphoric and clearly he's up to the challenge. LeBron James backing him down and daring him to defend him? It's no problem for Tatum. Even if LeBron scores, Tatum's prepared to run back down the court, take any shot he wants, and sink it. He's playing like a star the Celtics have not had since the Big Three era.

It's almost like a switch he has turned on with thirty point games coming at will and his potential is a terrifying prospect for other NBA teams. After all, Tatum is only 21 years old and it's just his third season. He has so much room to grow. He just became the first player since 1994's Shaq to score 30 points with a shooting hand of 60 percent in three consecutive games.

If Mookie Betts is gone and Tom Brady is on his way out, let's enjoy Jayson Tatum. He's Boston's next star.

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