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Most Valuable Player Of Boston Celtics: Jayson Tatum

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Without a doubt, Jayson Christoper Tatum Sr. is the best player on the current Boston Celtics team. If he is the most valuable player on the team, this article will answer the question. Drafted as the third pick of the 2017 NBA Draft, Tatum has done nothing but live up to expectations at Boston. He might as well pass as a steal in his draft class for Boston, as he might as well be the first pick, looking at how the first and second picks turned out. Over his career in the NBA, we will look at his rise to stardom in Boston and why he’s considered the most valuable player on the team. 

Jayson Tatum’s Career Path?

High School

He was one of the top basketball players on the school squad and went to the “Chaminade College Preparatory School. He scored 13.3 points per contest on average during his junior year in college. On average, he scored 26 and 29.6 points per game in his sophomore and last seasons, respectively.

College 

  • Jayson Tatum attended Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. On December 3, 2016, he made his Duke Blue Devils men’s basketball debut. Tatum scored 10 points in his first game.
  • He was a key contributor to the Blue Devils winning the ACC Tournament Championship. In the tournament, he averaged 22 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game for the Blue Devils. 
  • In the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, the men from Duke defeated Troy University. But in the second round, they were defeated by South Carolina. Tatum did, however, average 16.5 points and 7.5 rebounds each game.
  • He was selected for the All-ACC and ACC All-Freshman team’s third team due to his exceptional efforts. 
  • Jayson Tatum as a freshman at Duke, had an extremely inspiring and successful season. Additionally, his first-year performance made it possible for him to enter the 2017 NBA Draft.

Jayson Tatum In The NBA

  • In the 2017 NBA Draft, the Boston Celtics picked Jayson Tatum as the third overall choice. He was immediately added to the starting lineup and made an impact. He contributed significantly to the Celtics’ run to the Eastern Conference Finals in the 2018 NBA Playoffs. He was selected for the NBA All-Rookie First Team. 
  • In his sophomore year, he could only increase his box score averages as the Celtics made a poorer postseason run than his rookie season. The Milwaukee Bucks, whom Giannis spearheaded, defeated the Celtics 4-1 to make them tumble out of the playoffs in the second round. 
  • After Kyrie Irving decided not to return with the Celtics and departed them in free agency coming into Tatum’s third season, Jayson Tatum finally had the chance to be the team’s focal point. As a result, Tatum and Jaylen Brown were given a more challenging assignment, which they both did exceptionally well. He guided the team to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they were defeated 4-2 by the Miami Heat. He, however, earned his first NBA All-Star Game.
  • In 64 games in 2020–2021, Jayson Tatum averaged 26.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.3 assists, increasing his offensive performance. The Boston Celtics concluded the regular season with a 36-36 record, and they secured a playoff position by winning the play-in game against the Washington Wizards. 
  • In Game 3 of the first-round series against the Brooklyn Nets and their “Big Three,” Tatum broke a number of records with the performance, becoming the first player in NBA postseason history to score 50 points after scoring just ten the game before. The Nets eliminated the Celtics in five games in the first round of the playoffs.
  • Last season was Tatum and Boston Celtics’ year. They achieved a feat that hadn’t been done in twelve years. The Celtics, led by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, have made the NBA finals since 2010. Although the Celtics fell to the Warriors in the NBA finals, the Celtics had quite a run, with Jayson Tatum leading the squad with 25.6 points per game.
  • Besides this, Jayson established himself as one of the most valuable players in the NBA by taking the league lead in Plus-minus for the first time in his fifth season. Tatum also earned his first start as an All-Star in his fifth season. 

Jason Tatum’ Strengths 

The most intriguing selling point of Jayson Tatum is his extraordinary rate of shooting success. He has a well-developed offensive skill set which only gets better. He can be lethal from long-range and mid-range, where he shoots 45.8% and 38.3%, respectively. Because of his speed and ball-handling prowess, Tatum can occasionally play the small ball four positions and finish at the basket. He has several ways to get to the basket and plays the game at his own pace. 

Jayson Tatum’s Weakness

Jayson Tatum’s inconsistent defense stands out as one of his weaknesses. While he may thoroughly restrain a player from forcing a turnover, he can become icy-cold and be out of rhythm on other occasions.

Another flaw is his shot selection. Tatum enjoys playing isolation games, which sometimes puts him in a position to take more contested shots. This has not affected his efficiency much, but he might need help keeping up moving forward.

Jayson Tatum’s 2023

Jayson Tatum picked up things from where he stopped last season. He has remained the focal point of the Celtics’ attack, which led to him breaking a number of records this ongoing season. 

  • At the age of 24, Tatum broke the previous record established by Bradley Beal at the age of 25 when he made eight three-pointers in a 134-121 victory over the Miami Heat to become the youngest player in NBA history to make 900 three-pointers.
  • Tatum also became the first player in the history of the NBA to have multiple games with 45 or more points, ten or more rebounds, and eight or more made three-pointers.
  • He also became the sixth player in NBA history to have multiple games with 45 points or more, ten or more rebounds, and just one or fewer turnovers (two).
  • He was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Month in October and November 2022 after averaging 31.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game.

From all indications, Jayson Tatum is undoubtedly the Celtics’ most valuable player. He carries the offensive load of the team, and he sometimes draws double teams, which allows other players like Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart to take better shots. Besides being the Celtics’ most valuable player, Tatum might as well be a contender for the regular season MVP award this season. 

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