Paul Pierce: Jayson Tatum Is the NBAs Most Undervalued Superstar

Boston Celtics icon Paul Pierce has dubbed current team star Jayson Tatum the “most disrespected” superstar in the NBA today.

“In observing Tatum both on and off the court, I see a player who is humble and dedicated,” Pierce shared with NBC Sports Boston. “I have the opportunity to watch him train in Los Angeles every year, and his passion for the game is evident. He has motivation to prove himself, as he may be the most undervalued superstar in our league.”

Pierce’s selection of Tatum stems not only from his belief that Tatum lacks proper recognition in the NBA, but also from the experience he had during the 2024 Olympic Games, where the Celtics forward saw limited action and spent much of the tournament on the bench.

Despite leading the Celtics to an NBA championship, Tatum averaged just 17.7 minutes in the Olympics, contributing 5.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. He didn’t see any playing time in the challenging semifinal victory over Serbia and played only 11 minutes during the final against France.

“The drive is always within him. Just look at the treatment he received at the Olympics,” Pierce remarked. “It feels like there’s always some reason people aren’t pleased with Jayson Tatum. Even though he consistently earns first team All-NBA honors and has won a championship, there’s always something else that comes up.”