Boston Celtics: 3 ways Jayson Tatum is a dark horse MVP candidate

Reason No. 2) The most complete version of Jayson Tatum

Jayson Tatum is turning into a well-rounded superstar right before the eyes of NBA pundits, fans, his peers, and the league at large.

What’s not to love about number zero this season?!

Making the right reads off a double team, hitting open shooters, or making that extra hockey assist to initiate great team ball movement, Tatum is proving the critics wrong that he, in fact, can be a trusty distributor for the shamrocks.

The forward has cut down on lazy passes or over-dribbling which has led to one of two things: either a bad shot or a turnover.

These turnovers early in the season by him or Jaylen Brown would lead to fast breaks or easy transition opportunities for the opposing team. Turning the ball over with reckless abandon gives a defense no time to get set.

Let’s talk about his aggression as a bucket getter from all three levels consistently.

He is playing through contact instead of complaining to the refs and, as a result, is driving to the basket more to either score, get to the free-throw line, or to make the winning basketball play overall.

As a defender, Tatum has been exceptionally elite and has entered the All-Defensive First-Team conversation for the first time in his young career.

We have seen him using his physical gifts and physique to play the passing lanes, lock up the perimeter with his length, and not give up on a play leading to spectacular chase-down blocks.

Jayson Tatum may be one of the most complete players in basketball this season, averaging 26.8 points, 8.2 rebounds (both career-highs), and dishing out 4.2 assists per game.

Those numbers on steadily improving efficiency spell out M-V-P.