NBA: Reviewing last year's Rookie of the Year finalists

#3 Jayson Tatum

Jayson Tatum was Boston's shining knight last season

Last season the Boston Celtics had high expectations. They had added Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward, they had drafted Jayson Tatum and were ready to take on the Eastern Conference and make a run for the Finals.

But after their season was seemingly derailed by injuries to Kyrie and Hayward, it seemed that they were going to have to wait. That was until Jayson Tatum really started to shine. Tatum's regular season stats last year came in at 13.9 PTS & 5.0 REB, but it was his Playoff stats that really showed the league who he was.

Tatum led the Celtics to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they went down to Lebron James' Cavaliers in 7 games (3-4). During the Playoffs Tatum averaged 18.5 PPG.

After a slow season, Boston have finally started to pull it together. With all their stars back in the lineup, it seems coach Brad Stevens has had to try to manage the best line up and find who has chemistry with who.

But Tatum's own game has elevated and continued to grow. Currently, the Celtics are sitting 5th in the Eastern Conference, and Tatum is averaging 16.6 PTS & 6.3 REB. Tatum seems to be the future of Celtics basketball, and he seems to be in love with the franchise. With the rumors circulating regarding Boston trying to attain Anthony Davis' services, they must not give up Jayson Tatum.

Of all their players, Tatum is the key to build your franchise around. Tatum led the team through the playoffs last season, and with players like Kyrie Irving who has been rumored to be looking to move on again in the next few seasons, Tatum is there to be a franchise player.

The most exciting thing for Tatum's career is that he has now been to the Eastern Conference Finals, played against (and held the standard!) to players like LeBron, he is at a big market franchise and he is still only 20 years of age! Jayson Tatum is one who needs to be taken notice of, now and deeper into his career.