Jayson Tatum

Dominance on a game-by-game basis has allowed the Boston Celtics — third-best in the NBA in terms of win margin (9.5) — to avoid too many suspenseful episodes throughout 2024-25. When those inevitable moments do arrive, though, Jayson Tatum has done his part in ensuring that the experience is horror movie-like for any defender standing in his way. Not far removed from misfiring on his initial go-ahead attempt in regulation, Boston’s superstar prepares to add to a lengthy list of career bouncebacks, freezing time to study the scene from a triple-threat position with just five seconds remaining. Spurred along by a crowd of 19,156 eager to see his next move, Tatum uses a size-up dribble before balancing into a perfectly-accurate 30-foot laser over Ochai Agbaji’s contest, prompting arms raised and celebration throughout. For Tatum, No. 3 across the NBA in buckets during the final 10 seconds of one-possession games, November 16, 2024’s display against the Toronto Raptors became another bullet point on his crunchtime résumé. By night’s end, Tatum’s ledger included a 24-point, 11-rebound, nine-assist, five-triple showcase, and, in trademark form, a memorable hip-hop-inspired postgame soundbite: “I have a lot of problems in life; confidence isn’t one.”