The Boston Celtics are 5th in the top-heavy Eastern Conference standings and are one of the hottest teams in the league. And much of their success is owed to their All-Star, Jayson Tatum. The 2016 draft pick has assumed the mantle of responsibility for the storied franchise and has led the Celtics this season.
The Celtics under Ime Udoka have become a quiet force in the East and continue to impress. They have the 3rd best defense in the NBA with a defensive rating of 106.4. Tatum has been pivotal to this achievement and has recorded an individual defensive rating of 105.8.
The 3-time All-Star also has 3.8 defensive win shares ranking the highest of all players in the NBA. His robust defense certainly puts him in contention for the NBA All-Defensive Team. But that is not the only award he should be contending for, according to Kendrick Perkins.
Jayson Tatum should be an MVP candidate
Former NBA championship winner turned TV analyst, Kendrick Perkins, had a strong opinion on Jayson Tatum’s performances. He tweeted his thoughts immediately after Jayson Tatum dropped 44 points and 5 rebounds in a resounding win against the Charlotte Hornets.
Jayson Tatum has played himself right into the MVP conversation! The numbers that he’s been putting up along with willing his teams to victories has been right up there with the Best of them! Carry the hell on…
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) March 10, 2022
Perkins voiced out Tatum’s nomination for the MVP in one of the tightest MVP races in recent history. Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Luka Doncic are the frontrunners for the NBA MVP award.
“Jayson Tatum has played himself right into the MVP conversation! The numbers that he’s been putting up along with willing his teams to victories has been right up there with the Best of them!”
And Kendrick Perkins thinks Jayson Tatum warrants inclusion in the MVP conversation. And he should be taken seriously.
Discussion about this post