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"JT impacts winning more" - Grant Williams breaks down what sets Jayson Tatum apart from Luka Doncic
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- "JT impacts winning more" - Grant Williams breaks down what sets Jayson Tatum apart from Luka Doncic
Grant Williams has had the good fortune of playing with two of this generation's greatest players: Jayson Tatum and Luka Doncic . Having played a season with Doncic on the Dallas Mavericks and four with Tatum on the Boston Celtics has given him a firsthand view of what makes these two players special.
One thing that stands out to Williams is the impact Tatum has on winning. While both he and Doncic are incredibly talented superstars, Grant says the way Jayson approaches the game sets him apart. From the effort he puts into defense to the way he trusts his teammates, he emphasized that Jayson Tatum embodies the true definition of a team player.
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A do-it-all wingman
Speaking on the "Club 520" podcast, Williams discussed how Tatum makes his presence felt on both ends. While the 6'8" wingman has made a name for himself for being a bucket-getter of the highest order, his ability to also lock it down on the other end of the court is what separates him from his peers.
"JT is my dog and what I'll say is JT impacts winning more," Williams shared . "So how you determine which one is a better player? That's on you to decide."
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Williams played his first four seasons in the league in Boston and saw firsthand how Tatum relentlessly worked on his craft, just like his idol, the late, great Los Angeles Lakers icon, Kobe Bryant . Not content to be merely known as a scorer, Tatum has turned himself into a solid defender and ball distributor, as evidenced by the 6.0 assists that he dropped per game last season, which was a career-high.
"The way he impacts winning is unprecedented. He impacts the game on every facet. He can defend. He's a playmaker. He can score," Williams gushed about his former teammate. "So he's a 6'10" wing that can do it all. That's the best way to describe it."
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Grant on playing with Luka
Williams only played 47 games in Dallas after Boston traded him there during the 2023 offseason. Despite his brief tenure with the Mavericks, he recalled how much he benefited from the defensive attention Doncic constantly drew, which allowed him to get so many wide-open looks from deep.
"The talent that I saw playing with Luka is absurd. 6'7" European bucket that also controls the game. He paces it. He knows how to put people in position," Williams stated. "I've never had that many open shots since playing with Luka Doncic in my life."
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He also disclosed that playing with Doncic wasn't always easy for everyone, given how ball-dominant the latter was and still is. However, he added that in every game, the Slovenian pulled off something he's never seen before.
"It's difficult at times, but at the same time, you watch him and you're amazed," he conveyed. "With LD, I felt like every single game there was something new where I'm like, 'Holy crap.' Maybe that's just how they both play. JT is a little bit more passive, a little more trusting of his teammates. LD is more ball-dominant, getting to his own."
Tatum and Doncic are undoubtedly two of the NBA's best players. However, as Williams alluded to, Tatum's defensive awareness and willingness to trust his teammates may give him an edge in terms of team chemistry and overall effectiveness on the court.
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Related: "The worst teammate" - Sam Mitchell reveals why Luka Doncic is the Lakers' biggest problem
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Feb 27, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
