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<p>Colin Cowherd is known for his bold opinions, often ranking alongside Skip Bayless for their controversial takes, and his recent remarks about Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum are no exception. Cowherd has dubbed Tatum with the moniker "The Password," which reflects a rather dismissive perspective on his status as a player.</p>
<h2>Colin Cowherd Questions Jayson Tatum's Superstar Status</h2>
<p>Cowherd's reasoning for labeling Tatum as "The Password" is far from flattering. During a segment on his show, <em>The Herd</em>, he stated that Tatum does not belong in the same conversation as NBA superstars like Nikola Jokic, LeBron James, Stephen Curry, or Kevin Durant.</p>
<p>Instead, Cowherd categorized Tatum simply as a "star" rather than a full-fledged superstar, implying that he is easily overlooked.</p>
<p>"I've never encountered a topic where I just present data and facts, and one city reacts so strongly. I don’t even get it," he explained. "Just yesterday, I mentioned that the Celtics are 10-2 when he doesn’t play. That’s not an opinion; it's a statistical fact. They average eight more points per game when he’s absent." </p>
<p>"When Tatum is sidelined, their field goal percentage, net rating, and 3-point shooting all improve. Those are not opinions. During the Eastern Conference and NBA Finals, it was Jaylen Brown who earned MVP honors, not Tatum. That’s a fact." </p>
<p>"In the Olympics, he was benched during a critical game against Serbia. In the gold medal match, he scored just two points. These are hard realities, not opinions. You’re trying to elevate him to the level of Jokic, Giannis, Steph, LeBron, and Luka. I’m not doing that." </p>
<p>"I’m just stating that he isn’t in that elite class, and all the numbers back that up. Moreover, if you look at endorsements, LeBron, Steph, KD, and Ja Morant each have their own brands. Tatum doesn’t; his shoe is under Michael Jordan’s umbrella. This indicates he tends to fade when surrounded by top-tier talent." </p>
<p>"What do the Eastern Conference Finals demonstrate? What do the statistics indicate when he doesn't play? I’m not denying he’s a star. The NBA has typically two or three superstars at a time, with around 12 stars in general. Tatum falls into that latter group, and it seems people are outraged by that categorization. This discussion about the ‘face of the league’ began, and he is more like Tim Duncan—efficient, productive, a good guy, and capable of leading a team to championships—but he lacks the charisma and personality associated with true superstars." </p>
<h2>Why Colin Cowherd Refers to Jayson Tatum as "The Password"</h2>
<p>It's worth noting that Cowherd's contentious take comes nearly a year after Tatum guided the Celtics to their first NBA championship since 2008. He has been a four-time All-NBA selection and finished sixth in MVP voting last season.</p>
<p>"I don’t consider this a criticism. You’re trying to compare him to superstars. There are many good soccer players, but few are at the level of Messis and Ronaldos," Colin Cowherd commented. </p>
<p>"At any moment, the world typically has just two or three of those. Currently, there are many exceptional soccer stars, but only a select few like Mbappé, Messi, and Ronaldo can be considered global superstars. And this is a global league; Tatum isn’t on that level." </p>
<p>"We often discuss Michael Jordan, who hasn’t played in years, as well as Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. Yet, we rarely mention Tim Duncan or Karl Malone—they are great players, but they lack the same enduring legacy. Jayson Tatum's career may fade from conversation in just a few years, which doesn’t diminish his talent. You’re the one trying to fit him into this elite category, while I’m simply pointing out that the statistics don’t support that." </p>
<p>"As for his nickname, there is a trend on NBA Twitter where new players receive nicknames. This season, seven players have been given new monikers, but the consensus for Tatum has been ‘The Anomaly.’ Does that sound like a name that would sell shoes?" </p>
<p>"Thus, I propose that his nickname should be ‘The Password’ because he tends to be forgotten all too easily. But I anticipate backlash for that remark! I’m just being playful here." </p>
<p>Cowherd also pointed out how the Celtics have shown improved offensive and defensive statistics when Tatum is not on the court, including a 3-1 record without him this season.</p>
<p>He highlighted previous playoff performances, specifically noting that Jaylen Brown received MVP accolades over Tatum, implying that Tatum has yet to cement his status as a dominant leader in the most crucial playoff moments.</p>
<p>This season, Tatum has started all 60 games and is averaging 27.2 points, with career highs of 8.9 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.1 steals, and 36.5 minutes per game, while shooting 45.5% from the field and 35.5% from three-point range.</p>
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