Jayson Tatum Earns NBA All-Star Game MVP in a Historical Performance: 'It Means the World'

Jayson Tatum is the eighth Celtic to earn NBA All-Star Game MVP honors.

Jayson Tatum rewrote the NBA All-Star Game record books Sunday night in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The four-time All-Star put himself in the mix for the Kobe Bryant MVP Award early, registering 13 points in the first frame. 

And on the day he unveiled his first signature sneaker, the Jordan Tatum 1's, he switched colorways at halftime, going from the pink lemonade version to the Jordan Tatum 1 Zoo, the latter inspired by his son Deuce's love of animals. With those on his feet, he drilled five-straight threes and erupted for 27 in the third quarter, setting a new NBA All-Star Game record.

Tatum finished with 55 points, the most ever in an NBA All-Star Game, going 22/31 from the field, including 10/18 on threes. He also stuffed the stat sheet with a team-high ten rebounds, six assists, a steal, and a block, leading Team Giannis, coached by Joe Mazzulla and the Celtics' coaching staff to victory.

After the 184-175 win over Team LeBron, who Jaylen Brown paced with 35 points, the 2023 NBA All-Star Game MVP said of scoring the most points in the event's history, "it means the world. You think of all the legends and great players that's played in this game, and in all honesty, records are meant to be broken, so I'll hold it for as long as I can, but I'm certain somebody will come along in a couple years and try to break it."

Regarding taking home hardware named after the player he grew up idolizing, Kobe Bryant, Tatum, the eighth Celtic to earn NBA All-Star Game MVP honors, expressed the following. 

"It's extremely special for me," conveyed Tatum. "My first All-Star Game was in Chicago in 2020 when they renamed the MVP after him, and I remember telling myself that day, 'I've got to get one of those before I get done.' And to be able to wear my signature shoe today, and (to) break the record, and take home this award of somebody that I idolized, it's a helluva day."

Indeed, Sunday was unforgettable for Tatum, who it wasn't long ago that he was a kid in St. Louis with a ball and a dream.

Further Reading

Jayson Tatum Sets New NBA All-Star Game Scoring Record, Earns MVP, and Jaylen Brown Paces Team LeBron with 35 Points, as Team Giannis Takes Home the Win

Jayson Tatum Unveils Jordan Tatum 1's

Here's How Wyc Grousbeck Handled Latest Rumors of Celtics Trading Jaylen Brown for Kevin Durant

Wyc Grousbeck Expects Celtics to Make Another Move: 'We’re Not Saving Roster Spots for a Rainy Day'

Joe Mazzulla Opens Up About Celtics Naming Him Head Coach: 'a Dream Come True'

Brad Stevens Discusses Decision to Remove Interim Tag from Joe Mazzulla's Title: 'The Hardest Thing to Do Would Be Going into the Playoffs Looking Over Your Shoulder'

The Layers of the Celtics Naming Joe Mazzulla Head Coach

Examining Potential Options for the Celtics on the Buyout Market