LeBron James and Kevin Durant may have captured the headlines in Paris, but in HoopsHype’s latest small forward ranking, it’s Jayson Tatum who emerges as the best small forward for the upcoming 2024-25 NBA season.
HoopsHype’s top 15 small forwards for the 2024-25 season:
1. Jayson Tatum
2. Kevin Durant
3. LeBron James
4. Kawhi Leonard
5. Paul George
6. Jimmy Butler
7. Scottie Barnes
8. DeMar DeRozan
9. Brandon Ingram
10. Franz Wagner
11. Mikal Bridges
12. OG Anunoby
13. Brandon…— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) August 21, 2024
Tatum played a relatively minor role in the Olympics compared to LeBron and Durant, but that shouldn’t overshadow the season he just had for the Boston Celtics. He averaged 26.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.9 assists on 47.1% shooting from the field, earned First-Team All-NBA honors, and won an NBA championship.
HoopsHype has made their stance clear, choosing a defending champion in his prime over two aging legends. Not only do they anticipate that Tatum will pick up right where he left off last season, but they believe his Olympic benching will only light an even bigger fire under him for next season.
Per HoopsHype:
“Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum also somehow has the luxury of entering 2024-25 with a chip on his shoulder, which for a player of his caliber can legitimately help provide a boost in the motivation department.”
“Regardless of the trolling, Tatum in our eyes will enter next season as the best small forward in the NBA, an elite scorer from all three levels, as well as a very good rebounder, playmaker and defender with excellent size for the position. He may not have a Finals MVP yet nor was he able to unseat the next two players on this list for minutes on Team USA this summer but Tatum remains just 26 with so much of his prime left to go.”
