Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum isn’t just set to make his fifth All-Star appearance this weekend in Indianapolis. He will also be defending his All-Star MVP title, which he won a year ago.
Tatum scored 55 points in a win last year in Salt Lake City en route to earning the All-Star Game Kobe Bryant MVP Award. In doing so, he became the first Celtic since Larry Bird in 1982 to win the honor. As a starter for the Eastern Conference in the 2024 All-Star Game, Tatum has a good shot at repeating, though he told Celtics Wire such a stellar performance might not be in the cards.
“Hot take, I probably won’t score 55 points tomorrow.” Tatum said with a laugh.
Celtics Lab 240: On the NBA's postdeadline order and what Boston can still do to get better https://t.co/EBmYfRJlni pic.twitter.com/e7b073A97d
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) February 13, 2024
“It’s a rhythm thing,” Tatum explained. “Starting the game tomorrow, if you get off to a good rhythm, you get a couple layups, maybe a couple of 3s, you look up, and you’ve got 16 points. And then it’s like, ‘all right, I might try to go get it again.'”
The first and only person to win back-to-back All-Star MVPs was Russell Westbrook in ’15 and ’16. Tatum could make a bit of history if he does go for the gusto and try to win the award tomorrow night. If not, he has a pick for who may grab the MVP.
“If it’s not going to be me, I might say Donovan Mitchell.” Tatum said.
Is Boston's Jayson Tatum overlooked in MVP discussions? https://t.co/rYP0upkoDh pic.twitter.com/wyLmzY3ZOI
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) February 17, 2024
Tatum said Mitchell is athletic enough, and he can get electric in a hurry. Mitchell isn’t set to start in the game, but he certainly has the offensive potential to get going.
Tatum is joined by his teammate Jaylen Brown in Indianapolis for All-Star Weekend. Whether or not either of them walk away with extra hardware is simply a bonus. Boston has more on its radar than exhibition trophies, after all.
A visual history of the Boston Celtics in the Skills Challenge https://t.co/iVxt9Fuzr0 pic.twitter.com/NdTfvDheOl
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) February 17, 2024
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