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Jayson Tatum, the 23 year old leader of the Boston Celtics, is on a trajectory similar to many superstars in the NBA. Tatum's hard work and dedication are proving that he is ready to shoot the Boston Celtics back to consistent prominence. Chance favors the prepared mind, and it appears that Jayson Tatum, once under the tutelage of the late Kobe Bryant, is on a collision course with the NBA MVP award, and it's not out of the question that Jayson Tatum can win the MVP this season for the Boston Celtics.
In this article we take a look at five reasons why Tatum is a contender for the NBA MVP this season.
#5 The Boston Celtics Jayson Tatum is hungry
Coming out of Duke and learning under the iconic Mike Krzyzewski is an advantage not many have. Jayson Tatum, at 6'8" and 210 pounds, is an incredible athlete merging athleticism with basketball fundamentals, patience and discipline learned at Duke to become one of the best young players in the NBA. Winners never want to lose, and Jayson Tatum not only aspires to become the best player, but also desires to decorate the Boston Celtics' TD Garden with a few more banners. He's ambitious in his clandestine style to achieve such a goal, and with the recent hiring of Celtics head coach Brad Stevens to the front office and Ime Udoka as Celtics head coach, Jayson Tatum will be even more incentivized to win and win big.
#4 Jaylen Brown
The Boston Celtics have two of the best young wings in the NBA. Both Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown can get any shot they want, yet they are also stellar Boston Celtics defenders. Imagine Brown and Tatum taking turns taking over games. The 6'6" 223 pound Brown, is a year older than Tatum, yet is developing at a similar pace. Brown and Jaysom Tatum on the floor is a matchup pergotory for most defenders. With all of Brown's talent, he will push Tatum to become even better while he performs at an NBA All-Star level himself every night. Teams will have to pick their poison when facing the Boston Celtics, and most nights Jayson Tatum will lead the box score, yet on other nights teams will be in double trouble when Brown goes off. The spotlight will be on Jayson Tatum, yet with Jaylen Brown, Tatum has the support he needs on both ends to thrive.
Also Read: What is Jayson Tatum’s Current Contract?
#3 The isolation stepback
After a rookie season that saw Jayson Tatum hit 43% of shots behind the arc, his three-point shooting dropped to 37% his second year. The side-step and step-back three off isolation became a weapon of choice to separate the defender from Jayson Tatum. It took a while to perfect from behind the line, as Jayson Tatum was using the shots from two-point range in high school and college. Off isolation, Jayson Tatum is a difficult cover and has the ability to hit difficult threes no matter who is guarding him. These are the shots, those difficult shots that will appear on highlight reels, that will keep Tatum on fan and media lips to put himself in position to win MVP.
The Boston Celtics have to win and win a lot for Jayson Tatum to receive enough attention for any postseason honor. That he's playing for the Boston Celtics' legendary franchise will also give him enough shine to be in contention, yet it was a former Los Angeles Lakers legend who has helped refine his game.
#2 Jayson Tatum working out with Kobe Bryant in 2018
From above:
"I literally sat there and watched it 20 times in a row. He (Kobe Bryant) did a Detail of me in Game 1, and then I guess he went through my agent and texted me. He said, "young fella, happy for your success. Stay focused. Keep going. If you're in L. A. this summer and you want to work out, just let me know."
Jayson Tatum was shocked. Kobe has always been Jayson Tatum's favorite player, so to have the late Kobe Bryant - one of the most technically sound athletes sports has seen - extend the offer to work out? Jayson Tatum says it was the 2nd best day of his life (next to his son being born). The result of that July 2018 workout is a player who has become an absolute scoring threat: 26 points per game this season, and as he perfects what Kobe Bryant exposed him to three years ago, Jayson Tatum is poised for the moment as if there is no moment; the game comes to him, and after shot selection being a challenge early on, his choices in shots seem to be right on point. One of the prettiest shots in the NBA is Jayson Tatum's side-step three because it seems to rarely touch the net.
#1 Jayson Tatum is leader of the Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics have won 17 NBA titles, and the names of Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, Larry Bird, Sam Jones, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett - among others - ring out when the Boston Celtics are mentioned. Jayson Tatum is that next guy. He's already a two-time NBA All-Star at 23, and as I mentioned earlier, plays for one of the most storied NBA franchises with a large fan and media following. His Boston Celtics will be on TV similar to other NBA contenders, so the ooh and ahh of his game will also be showcased for fans not living in New England. Fans will then talk about his performances like they did in his 50 and 60 point games. The Boston Celtics have made many changes this offseason, and the next step is to win the Boston Celtics' 18th NBA title. For that to happen, Jayson Tatum has to have the best year of his NBA career. If he does that, and the Celtics win in a crowded Eastern Conference with many MVP candidates, Jayson Tatum will be right there with anyone deserving of the award.
