Jayson Tatum’s MVP Campaign: Is This the Year He Joins the Elite?

Fresh off a championship run with the Boston Celtics, where he hoisted the Larry O’Brien Trophy for the team’s record-breaking 18th NBA title, Tatum is channeling all his drive into the new season — and he’s making waves from the get-go.

Building an MVP Resume

The Celtics are 4-0, boasting the league’s top offense and outscoring opponents by an impressive 24 points per 100 possessions outside garbage time. While the team’s balanced, potent lineup has plenty of reasons to credit Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Jrue Holiday, it’s Tatum who stands out as the driving force. Averaging 28.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 5.5 assists, and shooting with unmatched accuracy, Tatum seems primed to push his game to new heights.

As Tatum himself put it, “Saying that MVP is important to me is not in a way taking away from the success of our team.” He knows MVPs come from championship-contending teams, and he’s set on checking that box.

A Season of Redemption and Dominance

Last season was triumphant but also challenging. Tatum faced criticism for cold shooting streaks and endured harsh commentary on sports networks and social media. But he’s flipped the narrative this season, displaying impressive efficiency — particularly in pull-up jumpers and isolation plays, where he’s leading the league. Tatum is scoring in isolation at a league-best 1.39 points per play and shooting 55.6% in those situations, reminding everyone why he’s one of the NBA’s premier offensive threats.

Coach Joe Mazzulla praises Tatum’s ability to impact the game on multiple fronts: “His ability to do what he's doing — his shot-making, rebounding, defending, and playmaking. … That should be the norm.”

Chasing History

Tatum is close to joining an exclusive club. Only 25 players have five All-Star selections, three All-NBA First Team honors, a championship, and an MVP. At just 26, the MVP trophy is the only thing missing. Hall of Fame talent, championship experience, and now MVP-level consistency put him closer than ever to joining legends like LeBron, Durant, Curry, and Giannis.

An Irresistible MVP Case

If Tatum continues his torrid start, delivering career-best volume and efficiency while leading the Celtics back to the top, his MVP case will be hard to ignore. The question isn’t just if Tatum can keep this up — it’s if the league can keep looking the other way if he does.