Jayson Tatum Addresses Discourse Around His MVP Candidacy

There are countless examples this season capturing Jayson Tatum's maturation, the evolution of his game, and his growth as a leader. Another one took place on Saturday.

Jayson Tatum's season is so far defined by sacrifice.

His performance in the Boston Celtics' 126-115 win in their Christmas clash with the Los Angeles Lakers exemplified that.

The five-time All-Star debuted his second Jordan signature sneaker in that game, a matchup showcasing one of the most iconic rivalries in sports. Furthermore, it occurred in the arena where his childhood idol, Kobe Bryant, starred.

Yet Tatum had no qualms spending the evening dishing out seven assists and registering four screen assists that produced ten points, the latter two representing game-highs, setting up his teammates to seize the scoring spotlight.

"We've had so much team success and had our fair (share) of individual success and accolades, and the only thing left is to really win a championship," the two-time All-NBA First Team selection told Inside The Celtics earlier this season regarding his career evolution when it comes to embracing those roles. "And (I've) been in a lot of games, been in a lot of playoff games, and I understand the value that I bring, and it's not always about scoring."

The former Duke Blue Devil continued, "I know the effect I have on the court, and guys may not help or may be paying too much attention to me, or if I screen, I bring two defenders with me, and my teammates get open, and as you get older, you just realize that kind of opens everything else up for myself and for everybody else.

"So, just finding little different areas throughout the game, especially in the offensive end where I can screen for somebody to get open and they score, it won't show up on the stat sheet, but I know that that's impactful for our team."

The maturation of his game also captures his growth as a leader, a development highlighted by him calling a players-only meeting before the season so the team with the most talented top six in the NBA could share their honest feelings about the sacrifice required to maximize that advantage.

So, while the 26-year-old's steadfast commitment to making the correct play has him averaging 27.1 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 4.8 assists this campaign, impressive numbers but not figures that scream MVP, the St. Louis, Missouri, native's priority is doing everything he can to define this year's playoffs as the time Tatum made his championship ascent.

Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Still, he would, of course, love to capture the Most Valuable Player award on his way to leading the Celtics to Banner 18.

"Individual awards are important," the six-foot-eight forward acknowledged Saturday at All-Star weekend. "I'm not going to say that they're not. Everybody wants to win a championship, but you want to be rewarded for the work that you put in, for the things that you go out there and do on the court.

"They have individual awards for a reason. As a competitor, as a player, you grew up watching your favorite players winning MVP and First Team All-NBA and all that. Of course, you want to win those things. But you can't take precedent over playing the right way and doing the things that you have to do in order for your team to essentially be the best team in the league and have a chance to win a championship."

Putting more weight on the talent Tatum has around him or that the metrics favor some of the league's other marquee players like Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, leaders in value over replacement player and win shares, among other categories, than if Boston, 43-12, maintains its spot atop the NBA standings, is fair.

Holding his performance in the 2022 Finals against him, as ESPN's Brian Windhorst recently shared some voters do, when determining the regular season MVP two years later, is ludicrous.

The six-year veteran addressed that as well on Saturday.

"Would I love to win? Yes. But apparently, us losing the Finals two years ago affects what people think of me now, so I guess I've got some ground to make up. Everybody who has a vote, they vote -- the criteria is different. Everybody thinks differently. Right, wrong, or indifferent, it is what it is. You can't tell people what they should look for when they vote. That's the beauty of it."

It's a mature outlook from a superstar who, as badly as he wants to add an MVP to his trophy case, has bigger goals.

Further Reading

Jaylen Brown Doesn't Win Dunk Contest but Delivers Most Poignant Moment

Kristaps Porzingis Shares How First Season with Celtics Compares to His Expectations: 'Haven't Stopped Smiling'

Jayson Tatum's Approach vs. Nets Tale of Two Halves and Steadfast Commitment

Brad Stevens Discusses Celtics' Plan for Final Roster Spot

Brad Stevens Sheds Light on Celtics' Motivations for Xavier Tillman Trade

Marcus Smart Shares How Boston Shaped Him, His Message to Celtics Fans

Celtics Maturation Molded by Experience: 'It Builds, Like, an Armor'

Jaylen Brown Quieting Doubters, Validating What He Always Believed: 'Earn Everybody's Trust'

Joe Mazzulla Discusses Identity, Evolution of Celtics' Offense: 'Balance of Pace and Execution'

Jaylen Brown Shares His View of What Defines 'Celtics Basketball'