Celtics' Jayson Tatum Receives Shocking Future Prediction From NBA Insider

Injured six-time All-Star Boston Celtics power forward Jayson Tatum, who will likely miss all of 2025-26 recovering from an Achilles tendon rupture, has surprisingly popped up a lot in a recent poll of ESPN NBA insiders, as compiled by their Worldwide Leader colleague Tim Bontemps.

When asked who will be the league's best player five years from now, in 2030, 16 NBA experts voted for All-Star San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama, still just 21. Two panelists voted for five-time All-NBA guard Luka Doncic, 26. One voted for the league's reigning MVP, 27-year-old point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. But one voted for Tatum, also 27.

Bontemps notes that Wembanyama was voted the likeliest player to be the league's top talent down the road for the second straight season.

"There's no one that has that shot profile," one Western Conference assistant raved regarding Tatum. "He's what everyone wishes they have: A 6-foot-10 guy who shoots 3s, gets to the rim and gets fouled."

In a somewhat-related poll, two panelists believed Tatum would still be the best American player five years from now. Three-time All-Star Minnesota Timberwolves shooting guard Anthony Edwards was the runaway winner of this poll, earning 11 votes. Dallas Mavericks rookie forward Cooper Flagg nabbed five. All-Star Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero and All-NBA Oklahoma City Thunder champion Jalen Williams each earned one vote apiece.

"I don't see anyone else catching [Edwards] by then," a West scout told Bontemps. "And it's unfair to Cooper to put that on him before playing in one NBA game. So, it's Ant until proven otherwise."

The five votes for Flagg, who has yet to play a single NBA game, were a bit surprising. But clearly, league experts are bullish on his upside.

"He can do everything," one Eastern Conference executive reflected on the No. 1 pick in June's 2025 NBA Draft.

Can Tatum Level Up When He Returns?

When healthy, Tatum has been spectacular. A five-time All-NBA honoree, his versatility on both ends of the hardwood have made him one of the most lethal players in the league already.

Across 72 healthy regular season games last year, the 6-foot-8 Duke product averaged 26.8 points on .452/.343/.814 shooting splits, 8.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists a night.

Very few players can recover their pre-Achilles tendon form, but Tatum is young and athletic enough that he at least has a chance to buck that trend, much like Kevin Durant did when he returned to the Brooklyn Nets in 2020-21.

Giants Rookie Marcus Mbow Set to Make a Splash in Week 1 Against the Commanders

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

The New York Giants enter their Week 1 matchup against the Washington Commanders with a lot to prove. After spending the whole offseason upgrading the roster, only to dominate the preseason, it's time to see if this team is just another preseason hero or a potential Cinderella story.

A lot will be talked about the quarterback position, as Russell Wilson is getting his first start in Giants blue with Jaxson Dart nipping at his heels, but the biggest storyline will be star offensive tackle Andrew Thomas and his status for kickoff. In the final injury report released Friday, the 26-year-old was officially listed as doubtful, casting a 6-foot-5, 315-pound shadow for Sunday.

Fortunately, general manager Joe Schoen had planned for this exact scenario via free agency and the draft. Schoen added veteran swing tackle James Hudson III and selected Purdue's Marcus Mbow in the fifth round. Hudson is expected to get the start if Thomas is a no-go, but don't be surprised if it's the 22-year-old former Boilermaker who captures the headlines when the final whistle blows.

Marcus Mbow could take advantage of Andrew Thomas' uncertain status

Mbow's special skill is his versatility. Coming out of college, he was widely considered a guard, but despite his size (6-foot-4, 304 pounds), he's been getting mostly all of his work at tackle. When New York's depth chart was released, his name was sitting right behind Jermaine Eluemunor on the right side.

He played all three preseason contests on the end, earning All-Preseason Team nods from CBS Sports’ Emory Hunt, albeit unofficial. While that won't necessarily matter come regular-season snaps, it's a strong indication that his development is much further ahead of where anyone would have expected from the 154th pick.

Mbow isn't going to replace Thomas. That's not his job. But he can help take the sting away if he were to miss time. There's no denying that when Thomas isn't playing, Big Blue's offensive line falls apart. Look no further than last season. Once their star lineman went down, everything collapsed. In the immediate six games after his season ended, the team went 0-6, scoring a measly 15.3 points per game during that stretch.

That's exactly why Hudson is such an important piece. He brings four years of veteran experience, with 17 starts and a lot of attitude. But just because he brings expertise doesn't necessarily mean Mbow will be rendered useless. The 26-year-old journeyman struggled during the preseason, while the rookie looked great. Don't be surprised if Mbow is pushing for snaps and making a name for himself in Week 1.

There usually aren’t any silver linings for the Giants when Andrew Thomas is out. But if his missing time leads to Mbow being able to show he belongs, things could be worse. It's unlikely with Hudson and Eluemunor likely starting, but crazier things have happened. Only time will tell if he can take advantage.