Why does rookie Tatum look better than Tatum now? More aggressive, more fluidity, more speed. Idk why we never saw this version again.

Just straight up nostalgia bias this version of tatum is by far worse of any version there is

Bro that’s not what I was saying lmao, it’s obviously his rookie season. He just looks more fluid bro

Less pressure and defense have not yet studied him Also look how slimmer he loooks back then

I’m mainly talking about the fluidity tho, he’s just moving different imo

Honestly, I hate how right you are sounding

😭 atleast ur honest bro, it’s not that he’s better but like he looks better

Dude i notcied this too. His game absolutely changed. He’s more of a Jumper guy and is very predictable

Facts and his jumper looks worse lol

Absolute engagement farming in 2026 😂

Bro it’s just facts man, he looks better

Too bulky?

Injuries and weightlifting both.

Umm I think he tore his achilles😅

😭😭😭 even before that bro lmao

I guess yeah he went more jumper reliant

Facts I hate it

He’s 18 years old there. He’s 28 now. Look at 20 year old lebron, steph and kd, you’ll see how fast they were compared to their 10th season. Lol

True, ur not wrong. But his fluidity is so different

fr…

He looks so good here man

Injuries

Definitely affected his jumper like damn it was so smooth before

Too much weight lifting

Facts I actually think lifting weights is bad for shooters

He got way too big. Coincided with a downturn in off the dribble efficiency too about 4 years ago. Lost quickness and doesn’t create space on step backs anymore and even though he’s better at rim Tatum always wants to shoot so never understood the lifting to this level

This year you are going to find out why

Wdym lol

they had him attack the rim more

It’s weird, I’ve never watched Tatum and seen Russell Westbrook, but he kind of moved like Russ back then.

Ngl I know wym, that motor was different as a rookie

Tatum had so much power when he was a rookie

@WASHEDUPGLORY Facts man

You are only watching the highlights lol Rookie Luka also looks better just by the highlights

Lukas fat tho

Finally someone else sees it. Even before he got hurt I didn’t think he was the same player as early on in his career

I lowkey think watching Kyrie might’ve affected him. He’s still good tho is the thing, but it’s just not enjoyable ti watch

Never thought about it like that. Definitely could have some truth to it. Tatum settles for his jumper too much now. I’ve seen multiple instances where he’s got a switch where he could’ve easily drove but decided to take a contested pull up instead

Ppl will tell you it's ok for a 6'10 wing who is a terror getting downhill to be shooting 8-10 3s a game like he's steph

Facts bro I agree. It’s not even that tho, like if he’s shooting 40% let it fly. He shoots like 35-37%. It’s good but like come on

Not even 35-37% last 2 years he shot 33 & 34% on 9 att and 10 att. Shit is sickening. He'd be unstoppable if he was a midrange dominant player

Because he left

@aprimespecial Nah lmao this was when Kyrie was injured and Tatum was a rookie

Because now he’s trying to be more than he is. He also spends more time jawing with refs than playing basketball.

Idk about jawing w refs, but I hate how he plays ngl

Is this a rhetorical question?? The coaching is the difference. This bum of a coach and his cheap philosophy of jacking up 3’s is the difference there is no mystery here

I agree, but his jumper isn’t as fluid either

He wasn’t being guarded by 2-3 guys at a time. He had open lanes. He’s more calculated now and a much better playmaker than he was back then

Yes but he’s pushing the pace so much more here, and he’s more aggressive. Extra defensive focus affects that, but it doesn’t take it away u know

Because you’re a casual

So ur saying his jumper doesn’t look better here? And he doesn’t look more aggressive?

Looks doesn’t mean more efficient. If there is any change, it’s because coaches that Tatum hires tell him to adjust his shot mechanics. Also, opposing teams have now thoroughly scouted Tatum in 2026 vs 2018 when he came out of nowhere.

Because he started point and rebound chasing. This was prior to that. Hope he goes back there.

Fairs I agree w u

F/o made in change his play style

Facts, Mazulla is acc weird ngl

He dunked on Lebron and the higher powers of the NBA took him in a back room & jumped him and told him to slow his mf roll

💀💀💀

He shot 45 percent from three too lmao. It's all shot selection imo he plays too much like Kobe at times.

Bro his jumper looks way less smooth now

I do agree too that jumper has slowed alot since his rookie year but maybe that's because he bulked up

I think he had an injury too so both

JB happened

The version we see now is better this version averaged 13 ppg niggas just say anything

I know it’s better. Firstly, he avgd 19 in the playoffs as a rookie. Secondly I’m just talking about how he looks visually

It’s cuz he’s thinner dude. Now he plays like LeBron with a jump shot lmfao.

Highlights don't tell the full story. His end product now nearly doubles his rookie year ouput. Plus he was playing with Al, Marcus Smart and Kyrie. Much expectations weren't much on a 19yr old to do much. He was free of responsibilities

I’m not talking about production

He's more mature now. You won't run the same way you did when you were 19

That’s true, but just the overall fluidity. Like look at Kyrie and Bron, still so smooth and fluid despite completely different playstyles and a long career. Tatum’s hella stiff

Now he just does step back 3's and straight line drives. Maybe it's the Achilles, maybe it's the knees.

Bro even before the Achilles man idk what happened tbh

Beta

He gained weight