Back when Jayson Tatum was drafted in 2017, not many scouts predicted he would become more than a scorer. After a great freshman year at Duke, the usual draft comparisons were made with high-volume isolation scorers who lacked passing skills, such as Carmelo Anthony or Harrison Barnes. There were concerns about his ability to develop into a playmaker.
NBADraft.net said, “he is not the most comfortable playmaker on the move.” Sports Illustrated scouts were aligned, writing that, “he’s developing as a passer but isn’t a playmaker with the ball in his hands.” Similarly, Bleacher Report scouts voiced concerns about his passing, noting, “his shot selection and inability to find the open man in certain situations were concerns for me,” and “he’s definitely not a shoot-it-or-move-it guy.”
There is no shame in not foreseeing Jayson Tatum’s potential as a playmaking and passing wing back then. After 29 games in the NCAA with Duke, he had just 62 assists to 76 turnovers over nearly 1,000 minutes. With 16.8 points per game and only 2.1 assists, the balance was clearly tilted toward scoring for JT. And to be fair, it took a few years to change.
Into the details
To understand a player’s tendency to playmake or score, we use Cleaning the Glass’s playmaking ratio. The “assist-to-usage ratio (AST:Usg)” statistic provides a clear picture of a player’s balance. Pass-first point guards typically have an AST:Usg above 1, while finishers fall below the 0.5 mark. Early in his career, Jayson Tatum’s numbers were firmly in the latter.
Looking at the numbers, Tatum was primarily a scorer. The first shift came after the bubble, when Kemba Walker handed over the offensive reins to Tatum and Jaylen Brown. From 2019–20 to 2020–21, his usage rate rose from 28% to 31%, while his assist rate increased from 14% to 20%. This was his first step toward becoming a playmaker and an offense’s primary creator. However, progress stagnated until this season.
This season, while his usage rate is similar to last season’s, Tatum’s assist rate has taken another leap, moving him closer to the realm of a primary playmaker. For context, offensive stars with a playmaking ratio of 0.8 or slightly higher include De’Aaron Fox, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Kyrie Irving—guards known for their playmaking ability.
With Kristaps Porziņģis back from injury, this number could climb even higher — Tatum has already assisted him 9 times since his return. As for the rest of the Celtics, Derrick White is the biggest recipient of Tatum’s passing, with 30 assists from JT to D-White so far. Over the first few games of the season, they’ve developed into an unstoppable pick-and-roll duo, with both players capable of setting screens, pulling up, and executing short-roll passes to the rim.
Speaking of pick-and-roll, Tatum’s ability to set screens is one of the Celtics’ hidden gems. This often creates panic in opponents’ minds and forces defensive collapses. Now that we’ve delved into Tatum’s passing stats, let’s examine his on-court execution. We’ve glimpsed his talent in pick-and-rolls with Derrick White; now, let’s explore his passing repertoire — left hand, right hand, two-handed, and no-look passes — from the season’s early games.
Left hand dishes
Being able to deliver a live-dribble pass with the weak hand opens up countless opportunities for Tatum. Previously, teams could double-team him and force him to retreat to his left. This often disrupted the offense.
Now, with improved ball-handling and left-handed passing, teams take greater risks when scheming against his left. With his left, he can deliver precise passes to rim runners, creating the most efficient shots in basketball.
While 20% of his assists are at the rim, 18% go to the corner—another high-efficiency zone. The left-handed live-dribble pass makes this even more dangerous for opponents. The Celtics’ spacing allows the Jays to thrive in drive-and-kick scenarios.
Tatum’s newfound ability to deliver bullet passes with his left hand at full speed adds another layer of difficulty for defenses.
Right hand and over the head passes
It’s easy to forget how effective Tatum is with his right hand—or with two hands. His improved handle has been a game-changer. Compare his play in the 2022 Finals to now. He’s a different player. Tatum sometimes operates as a 6’8” point guard, running pick-and-rolls with poise and delivering precise passes, whether on the bounce or not.
Why highlight two-handed passes? If Tatum can pass well with either hand, why does it matter? First, it showcases his size advantage. Oversized playmakers like Tatum can send cross-court, two-handed passes over defenders with ease.
This height advantage opens up passing lanes and simplifies Tatum’s job. Still, two-handed passing isn’t easy — the court is much bigger than it looks on TV. Early in his career, Tatum occasionally overthrew these passes.
Now, he’s mastered them, delivering pinpoint passes over one or two defenders. Tatum is nearing the full package as a passer. The one missing piece? The no-look pass — the ultimate shenanigan skill for elite playmakers.
The no look pass is coming
While the no-look pass isn’t fully developed, Tatum is showing signs of mastery. Look at this sequence, where he senses Derrick Jones Jr. closing in and baits him into a trap using his court vision.
Jayson Tatum’s growth as a passer is redefining his role on the Celtics. From live-dribble left-handed feeds to two-handed cross-court lasers, he’s showcasing a full arsenal that makes him harder to scheme against. The no-look pass may be the final flourish, but even without it, Tatum’s playmaking leap is cementing his status as one of the NBA’s most complete players.
