Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum is the NBA MVP and it’s not particularly close

The Boston Celtics have the best record in the NBA, and star forward Jayson Tatum is having the best statistical season of his career. You’d think that this would translate to Tatum being the clear MVP favorite in the eyes of the media.

However, that is not the case, as Tatum has fallen behind Nikola Jokić and Joel Embiid in the MVP race.

That is quite absurd. Tatum is the clear MVP favorite and that it’s not particularly close.

Tatum has played 56/60 games this season, and he is averaging a career-best 30.6 points per game. The fact that Tatum has been a borderline iron man this season should be factored into the MVP discussion because if you are playing at a high level for the best team, that should mean something.

Tatum excelled in the first half of this season, and I feel that he established himself as the best two-way player in the NBA. He finds a way to dominate the game on both ends of the floor almost every night, which is what MVP players do. He is averaging career highs in six statistical categories, and he is currently on pace to be the first player in Boston Celtics history to average 30 or more points in a season.

These factors are ultimately why I find it bizarre that Tatum is not first on all MVP trackers. For example, Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer has Tatum ranked fourth on his MVP tracker behind Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jokić, and Embiid. I think Tatum has had better seasons than these guys, and he is doing it following a Finals loss. The fact that Tatum is this motivated following a Finals loss shows that he deserves to win the MVP award.

If Tatum continues to play well against other MVP candidates he should put himself in a prime position to lock up the award.