How is it that Jayson Tatum has never finished in the top 3 for MVP voting? Over his 6 year career, he’s led his team to the ECF 4 times, with one Finals appearance. Also, the Celtics have secured the 2nd seed three times and the 3rd seed once. Given all this success since his debut, it baffles me that Tatum hasn’t come close to winning an MVP Honestly, if the Celtics clinch the 1st seed this year, he deserves to win MVP.
EDIT:
I’ve noticed comments pointing out that I’m emphasizing the team’s success over Tatum’s individual performance. While I believe individual performance is pivotal for MVP consideration, it’s not like Tatum’s been putting up subpar numbers. I genuinely believe his stats are MVP worthy. I’m not necessarily saying he should already have an MVP, but imo, he should’ve ranked above Giannis this past season. Giannis this past season lacked in defensive stats, coupled with a low FT% - especially given he’s one of the league’s top shooters in this category - and a high turnover rate. Add to that the fact that Tatum was available for 10 more games than Giannis. That’s just my opinion my lmk what you guys think!
He hasn’t deserved it. Please look at my username. I am not being a hater.
He’s only had one top 3 MVP caliber season (last year), but the Sixers organization shamelessly debased themselves to campaign for Embiid and the Celtics have many, many haters so he didn’t get his due.
I think Jayson Tatum is a very good player, but I think that the roster surrounding him has also been a key factor to his success, can Tatum carry a team like the 2022 nuggets to a six seed where all the help is missing? Can he carry a team like the 2019 Bucks to the ECF when his point guard is Eric Bledsoe. See the difference between an MVP caliber player is that they can change the outcome for an entire team alone, it is why you bring pieces together around that core player. In the Celtics case they have had a plethora of talent on the court alongside Tatum: Brown, Smart, Williams, Kemba, Kyrie, Horford, and the list goes on. This is no disrespect to Tatum either, he is a phenomenal player but if he were on any other team that was not Boston he might just be a guy like Bradley Beal on the Wizards who can score and be a bottom tiered team.
He had his chance at proving all the hype around him in 2022, but to fall apart the way he did in the Finals just proved he is not at that level yet. Also remember that Jaylen Brown exists on the team and put up 26/7/3 last season and has been an amazing second option on the Celtics. He is not shouldering the weight of the Celtics team on his own.
can Tatum carry a team like the 2022 nuggets to a six seed where all the help is missing?
21 Celtics had a washed Kemba, Smart, Fournier, Tatum, Tristan Thompson, Langford, Jabari Parker rotation (JB injured) and Tatum dragged them to a 7th seed, dropped 50 in the play-in and won one game by himself against the peak Nets when everyone was healthy and they were expected to sleepwalk to the title.
As a Celtics fan, the best copium is giving him the Kobe Bryant Treatment. He’s a top player, but there are just better, more deserving players in the league rn. He’s entering his prime soon, on a great team no less; hopefully he’ll win one in the near future.
Giannis averaged more points, rebounds, and assist and his team had a better record then Tatum im not sure why you think Tatum should’ve been ranked above him, then add Jokic and Embiid, Tatum didn’t have a better season then any of those three players
Because he’s not had an mvp season… if he hadn’t played for the Massholes nobody would even be asking this.
There have always been 3 better players than him
Because better players exist.
Bc embiid Giannis jokic n steph who are all consistently mvp caliber players in the reg szn too
They counted the votes and he finished fourth or worst.