C’s fans will love Jayson Tatum’s answer to the MVP question originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Jayson Tatum is an NBA champion, five-time All-Star and four-time All-NBA selection. Boston Celtics The star is among the league’s best players, but the MVP award still eludes him as he prepares for his eighth season.
Tatum finished sixth in NBA MVP voting last season, fourth in 2023 and sixth in 2022. He will almost certainly be in the running again next spring if he stays healthy, but he still isn’t concerned about individual accolades after leading Boston to the 18th banner.
In a Conversation with Sports Illustrated’s Bobby KrivitskyTatum was asked to balance his MVP aspirations with another title run.
“Yeah, winning is more important than anything,” Tatum responded. “Winning a championship is the most important thing. Playing the right way. But it’s been done before. It’s possible. You can play the right way, you can dominate the game, you can go for a championship and be the MVP of the league. So you don’t have to sacrifice one for the other. You can do both.”
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The MVP award and the 2025 NBA title should be on the line for Tatum. The 26-year-old is in the prime of his brilliant career and is the clear leader of the group of heavy title favorites. As great as he was in 2023-24, there is reason to believe he can be even better in his quest for another title.
Tatum may also be heading into the new season with some grudge. He was named to the U.S. team’s roster for the 2024 Olympics. unlike his C’s teammate Jaylen Brownbut he was mysteriously benched in two of the six games by head coach Steve Kerr. Despite winning a gold medal, he admitted he had to sit on the bench It was a “difficult” experience.
Still, his focus will be on Banner 19 when Celtics training camp begins later this month. Boston will begin the preseason with two games against the Denver Nuggets in Abu Dhabi on October 4 and 6. Their first regular season game is scheduled for October 22 against the The New York Knicks at TD Garden.
