Jayson Tatum played at an All-Star, some may even say All-NBA level, last year when he averaged a then-career-best 26.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game on 45.3 percent shooting from the field.
Tatum was awarded an All-Star nod in the 2021 All-Star Game but was snubbed from an All-NBA selection despite putting up similar, if not better, numbers than when he was voted to the 2020 All-NBA Third-Team.
During the 2020-2021 COVID-19 shortened season, Tatum scored 30+ points 16 separate times, 40+ twice, 50+ twice, and scored a career-high 60 points against the Spurs in early April. Not getting voted as a top 15 player in the League by basketball writers left Tatum feeling “kind of disrespected.”
“Do I think I was one of the best 15 players last year? A thousand percent.”
Jayson Tatum said he “kind of felt disrespected” when he didn’t make an all-NBA team last season.
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) May 25, 2022
“Do I think I was one of the best 15 players last year? A thousand percent.”
This last season, Tatum was vindicated with his third straight All-Star game selection and was voted to the All-NBA First Team for the first time in his career after leading the League for the first time in his career. He also finished the 2021-22 season, averaging 26.9 points, 8.0 boards, and 4.3 dimes per game on 45.3 percent shooting from the field, including 35.3 percent shooting from beyond the arc, in 76 appearances.
Tatum scored 30+ points 24 times and scored 40+ points three times and 50+ twice, including a season-high 54 against the Nets in March. Tatum has led the Celtics to a 49-27 season, good for second in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Jayson Tatum fading away is art.
— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 24, 2022
(via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/HEDU60m8yY
The Celtics and Miami Heat are currently in a dogfight in the Eastern Conference Finals, tied 2-2 as the series shifts back to Miami for Wednesday’s Game 5 in FTX Arena.
