Jayson Tatum Says His Goal Is To Win NBA Championship, Not MVP

Jayson Tatum was asked about his aspirations in the NBA this season. Speaking to the media, Tatum noted that the Celtics have an amazing roster, with several players putting up strong numbers on a nightly basis. As such, he is focused on winning the NBA championship once again, rather than focusing on winning the MVP award for the first time in his career.

“We’re a really, really good team, with so many talented players. I’m probably not going to put up the same numbers as those other guys. That’s perfectly fine with me, especially what we did in June last year. That’s the main goal, not for me to win MVP.”

Jayson Tatum is currently averaging 28.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game while shooting 46.3% from the field, 37.2% from the three-point line, and 80.3% from the free-throw line. He has been playing excellent basketball, as he has helped the Celtics achieve a strong 22-6 record in the Eastern Conference, good enough for the second seed.

Tatum and the Celtics have been proving their championship mettle this year, establishing themselves as one of the favorites to win it all come June. But they will have a tough time getting out of the East, as they are guaranteed to have to go through at least one team out of the New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Milwaukee Bucks.

Despite some of their injury concerns, primarily with Kristaps Porzingis, the Celtics have a deep roster filled with players who can step up and deliver on a nightly basis. With this deep a roster, the Celtics have to be considered one of the teams to beat heading into the 2025 NBA playoffs.

Jayson Tatum Putting Up MVP Numbers

Jayson Tatum might not be focused on winning the MVP award. But he certainly has a strong case for it. With the numbers that he is putting up, combined with the strong performance that the Celtics have put up this season. The MVP award usually comes down to individual performances combined with the player's impact on winning for his team.

Given that the Celtics have the second-best record in the NBA, and Tatum is their leading scorer on a near-nightly basis, Tatum has to be in the running for the award. Players like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are also in the running alongside Tatum

For Tatum, winning the MVP could be a form of vindication. Despite the Celtics winning the NBA championship last year, Tatum was poor in the playoffs. Despite averaging 25.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game in the playoffs, Tatum was inefficient, shooting 42.7% from the field, 28.3% from deep, and 86.1% from the free-throw line.

As a result, Tatum missed out on the Finals MVP after winning the NBA championship, to his teammate Jaylen Brown. He is currently averaging far better numbers and doing so far more efficiently. The MVP race is heating up this season, and the Celtics' strong run could help Tatum finally win the MVP.