Stephen A Smith puts Jayson Tatum in MVP conversation - “If you don’t know, you should ask somebody”
Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum has definitely been a player to look out for this season. Notching a tangible uptick in output and influence, ESPN's Stephen A. Smith suggested that Tatum deserved to be in the MVP conversation as well.
Tatum is one of the most promising young players in the NBA. Leading the Boston Celtics alongside Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart, the trio led the C's to a solid playoff run last season.
The team shone with Tatum at the helm. Leading the side with their versatile scoring, playmaking, and hard-nosed defense, the Celtics made their way to the Finals.
Unfortunately, the lights during the Finals may have been too bright for Tatum. The young Celtics star disappointed on the biggest stage, much to the fans' dismay.
However, since failing in the NBA Finals, Tatum has come back looking more motivated than ever. Having made significant improvements in a short span of time, Tatum has garnered higher praise this season. Praise that sees him mentioned in the MVP conversation.
While discussing the current candidates for MVP on First Take, Stephen A. Smith mentioned Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic as the frontrunner. However, he continued by saying:
"I will officially, on national television, throw Jayson Tatum into that conversation for the Boston Celtics. If you don't know, you should ask somebody. This brother is special.
"He is putting on a show and he is trying to make amends for his struggling performance in the NBA Finals. But Jayson Tatum is a superstar in this league and he plays like one."
.@stephenasmith is putting Jayson Tatum in the MVP conversation 👀
"This brother is special. ... Jayson Tatum is a superstar in this league and he plays like one." https://t.co/4gWboW8VoW
Stephen A. Smith continued by talking about Doncic's situation with the Mavericks and Steph Curry's sustained brilliance as a contender for the MVP award. However, his take demands some attention being driven towards the Celtics superstar.
After a relatively uneven Finals run, Jayson Tatum has looked more motivated than ever. Emerging as a leader for the Boston Celtics alongside Jaylen Brown, Tatum has put up superstar-caliber numbers while leading the team to wins.
The Celtics are the top-ranked team in the East. With an 18-4 record, Boston has established their place as the team to beat. With Tatum having a huge role in facilitating this, the C's will hope to see sustained brilliance from their superstar.
Jayson Tatum is on a hot-streak
The Boston Celtics are one of the best teams in the league at the moment. Considering that they were in the Finals just a few months ago, the team hasn't shown any signs of slowing down.
With a four-game winning streak in hand, the Celtics continue to add to their reputation as a team that doesn't lose back-to-back. A noteworthy aspect of their performances as of late has been Tatum's scoring output.
Tatum has been nothing short of an offensive juggernaut as of late. In the last four games, he has notched 30+ points in each outing. With the latest win seeing a 49-point barrage lead Boston past Miami, the Celtics superstar is presenting a solid case as an MVP candidate.
Tatum recently featured as one of the top candidates in the MVP power rankings as well. Going up against the likes of Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo, JT certainly holds his own against his fellow superstars.
Also Read: “He’s the guy that’s gonna carry the league on to next generation” - NBA analyst picks Luka Doncic over Jayson Tatum to predict early success in NBA career