For much of this season, news outlets have focused on speculation about who the NBA’s next star will be. A lot of names have been mentioned, like Luka Dončić and Victor Wembanyama, but the case of Jayson Tatum is more compelling because he is leading the Boston Celtics to a historic title.

Even while he has a long way to go before he can be considered the NBA’s next big thing, he does hold a more specific and esteemed title. In spite of his relentless pursuit of league stardom, 26-year-old Tatum is currently unrivaled as the top American basketball player in the world.

The Only American to Earn a Spot on the NBA All-Final Team Was TatumThe bulk of the NBA’s top players come from outside the country, which is a change from previous versions of the league.

Tatum’s dominance in the league has made his position as the best player in the United States abundantly evident. All of the league’s current stars, with the exception of Boston’s young forward, are international players. The last six Most Valuable Player honors, along with four First Team All-NBA positions (excluding Tatum), have all gone to NBA players who were born outside of the United States. Nikola Jokić is a Serbian, Dončić is a Slovenian, Giannis Antetokounmpo is a Greek, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a Canadian.

Bаsketbаll hаs gоne wоrldwide, sо it’s nо lоnger sаfe tо sаy thаt the tоp аmericаn plаyer in the NBа is аlsо the greаtest in the leаgue. аlmоst every NBа greаt frоm Bill Russell аnd Kаreem аbdul-Jаbbаr tо Lаrry Bird аnd Michаel Jоrdаn аnd LeBrоn Jаmes hаs plаyed this mаnner. Hоwever, in the current erа оf NBа bаsketbаll, Tаtum cаn hоld the title оf best аmericаn plаyer even if he isn’t the tоp plаyer in the leаgue.

When it comes to the playoffs, Tatum is having more success than his American counterparts.This season, the Celtics are in first place because to Tatum.Tatum, who is still in his early career, has already amassed an impressive playoff résumé, and he has punched his ticket to his second finals appearance in three years. With 51 points against the Philadelphia 76ers last season, he is on pace to surpass Kobe Bryant as the NBA’s all-time greatest scorer in the postseason before the age of 27. With 51 points, it was the highest scoring game in 7-on-7 history.

Despite playing with many all-stars in his time in Brooklyn and Phoenix, Kevin Durant has failed to reach the Conference Finals since his days with Golden State.

Stephen Curry (Golden State) almost avoided elimination from the playoffs. In southern Los Angeles, the Lakers lost James and Anthony Davis in the first round, and Kawhi Leonard, who has been plagued by injuries since joining the Clippers, also left.

Tatum, meantime, has guided the Bruins to the Eastern Conference Finals for the past three seasons in a row and is now within striking distance of a championship. If there’s one thing that all of the league’s best players have in common, it’s postseason success, and Tatum is having more of it than the average American.