Jayson Tatum joins elite company after winning Olympic gold

Jayson Tatum won his second Olympic gold medal when the United States overcame France 98-87 on Saturday. His first came during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where he emerged as the team's second-best player behind Kevin Durant.

The gold medal caps an incredible summer for Tatum. He won his first NBA championship, was named to his third consecutive All-NBA First-Team and signed a supermax contract with the Boston Celtics. The St. Louis native has joined a short but elite list of players to win an Olympic gold medal in the same year as winning an NBA championship and being named to an All-NBA First-Team.

As reported by USA Today's Cameron Tabatabaie, that list includes Michael Jordan, LeBron James and now Tatum.

Tatum's summer hasn't been all smooth sailing. He has found himself at the center of a controversy during his tenure in Paris. Despite widely being viewed as a top-10 player in the world, Tatum was benched for both of Team USA's games against Serbia. Steve Kerr's decision led to criticism from fans, players and analysts alike.

The Celtics star also struggled when given playing time. He was tasked with a role that failed to accentuate his diverse skill set, leading to disjointed performances on both sides of the floor. Tatum must now rebuild his reputation with the wider NBA fan base once the new season begins.

Tatum's list of career accolades continues to grow. At 26 years old, he is still two years away from reaching his prime and could potentially have multiple championships by the time the 2028 Olympics rolls around, where he could challenge for his third consecutive gold medal.

While his summer may not have gone according to plan, Tatum's resume reads like a first-ballot Hall of Famer with likely a decade left in his career. His latest feat is just another in a long line of accolades that shows no sign of slowing down.