Why is Jayson Tatum Being Ignored for MVP?

A third overall selection in the 2017 NBA Draft, Jayson Tatum has been undervalued ever since he stepped foot in the league.

Despite this, now 25-year old Tatum has developed into an active star in the NBA, leading the Boston Celtics in consistent deep playoff runs over the past number of seasons.

Yet, in doing so, he has failed to garner the recognition of that some of his contemporaries have come to enjoy.

Now deemed the best player on the winningest roster in professional basketball, why is it that he is looked over for the MVP award?

Despite starring during his lone year at Duke, Tatum entered the draft as an under hyped wing-forward (picked third – Markelle Fultz and Lonzo Ball took all of the acclaim).

However, since entering the league, Tatum has only continued to improve himself. Able to score from all ranges, he has consistently refined his game while showing maturation on a personal level year on year.

Many look to his burgeoning playoff career when evaluating weaknesses, and, on the face of it, you can easily argue that he hasn’t done it yet on the big stage.

Though, this is only partially correct. Yes, it’s true that when it comes to the biggest of stages, he and the Celtics have come up short. We saw that in the 2022 finals against the Golden State Warriors and it also reared its head in last years’ Eastern Conference finals against the Miami Heat.

But those shortcomings should not fall solely at the feet of Tatum.

Analysts now recognise that the series against the Warriors probably came a year too soon. Against Miami, a number of issues came to the forefront.

Affected by the loss of Ime Udoka as Head Coach a week before last season’s training camp, the Celtics had to adjust on the fly. His assistant, Joe Mazzula was initially given the role on an interim basis, before then being promoted permanently as the Celtics were leading the East.

However, Mazzula struggled in the playoffs.

Boston was plagued by an overwhelming insistence to take 3-point attempts, and against Miami’s aggressive defence, began to turn the ball over persistently. Add to this poor game management at the coaching level and the misuse of timeouts, you can see how that failing was due to a collective issue.

So, can you really put those near misses down to Tatum alone? The answer is quite simply no.

Others question if Tatum shows the personality to be a leader.

While not loud or brash, he is always present and leads by example. As the old adage goes, the best ability is availability – and Tatum showcases it to a top level.

Always ready and willing, can you really say the same about some past MVP winners?

Joel Embiid continues to struggle with injury, while Kawhi Leonard had experienced similar issues before his renaissance this year.

While these two may have been stricken as a result of bodily factors, other recipients have displayed appalling ill-discipline and discontent. James Harden leads this brigade of stars who continue to show that they are not team players.

Nevertheless, all of this is a conversation about the past – and so, how does Tatum measure up to this years’ competition?

Speaking ahead of the All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis, the 25-year-old told reporters that he is focusing on bigger ambitions for the season.

“As a competitor, as a player, you grew up watching your favourite players win MVP’s and First-Team All-NBA and things like that. So, of course, you want to win those things.”

“I think individual awards are important. I’m not going to say that they’re not. But, everybody wants to win a championship.”

“But you do want to be rewarded for the work you put in,” he explained.

That is just the type of championship-level thinking which should push Tatum towards the front of the MVP queue – but in reality, it hasn’t.

With a plus/minus of 8.0, Tatum is currently scoring just over 27 points on an average of 8.6 rebounds and 4.8 assists – playing a total of 35 minutes a night.

In terms of plus/minus, particularly – only Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell averages a better rating at 8.5 per game.

Collectively, the Celtics are firing on all cylinders. With a record of 43-12, Boston leads the NBA with an offensive rating of 120.8 points per game.

The team also ranks third in the league defensively with a rating of 110.5 – while their net rating of 10.3 leads all other franchises by three points a night.

Supported by a cast of Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, and at point-guard by the defensive heavy duo of Jrue Holiday and Derrick White – the Celtics unquestionably hosts the best starting five in the league.

Given this is the case, Tatum is still undoubtedly their leader.

Therefore, while it may be a stretch to crown him as the new face of the NBA, it is more than fair to place Tatum squarely in the MVP race.

Anything other than this fails to highlight the facts right in front of our eyes.