Is star Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum the best US-born player in the NBA right now?

Is star Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum the best US-born player in the NBA right now? With top players like Denver Nuggets star center Nikola Jokic and Milwaukee Bucks star forward Giannis Antentokounmpo representing countries like Serbia and Greece, respectively, the international delegation has been dominating the league’s elite echelon of players.

But where does Tatum come in vs. peers born inside the US like Minnesota Timberwolves star guard Anthony Edwards, Phoenix Suns star forward Kevin Durant, star Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Halliburton, or star Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey? Is he the best player in the league right now among this group?

This was exactly the question debated on a recent episode of the Showtime Basketball “KG Certified” podcast by former Celtics Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce.

Read more: Why the entire NBA is worried about the Boston Celtics.

The Boston Celtics are instilling fear among other NBA teams as they continue to play very well. With the emergence of Sam Hauser as a rotation option and the strong play of Al Horford, Payton Pritchard, and others, the Celtics are proving to be a formidable team.

Boston has two superstars in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, and with Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, and Derrick White, are among the NBA’s most highly skilled starting units. Tatum, in particular, has been outstanding and the Celtics’ perimeter defense, led by guards White and Holiday, has been a key factor. However, the bench still needs improvement, and the Celtics may need to make trades or bring in new players.

The people behind the “Backyard Buckets”  YouTube channel put together a clip talking about Boston’s season so far.