Jayson Tatum Flirts With Duke Basketball Record in NBA MVP Voting

Only one Duke basketball talent in history has finished better than Jayson Tatum in an NBA MVP race.

Matt Giles | May 3, 2023

Jayson Tatum Flirts With Duke Basketball Record in NBA MVP Voting /

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No former Duke basketball player has ever won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award. And it will remain that way for at least another year.

On Tuesday night, Philadelphia 76ers center and former Kansas one-and-done Joel Embiid took home the hardware for the first time in his career.

However, former Duke one-and-done and current Boston Celtics star forward Jayson Tatum was among the leading contenders throughout the regular season. The 25-year-old, presumably entering his prime, reached as high as No. 1 on the Kia MVP Ladder in early December and remained there for three straight weeks.

Tatum finished No. 4 in the voting, tallying a career-high total with 280 points. Out of 100 ballots, only two didn't have him in the top five. He received one third-place vote (worth five points), 89 fourth-place votes (three points each), and eight fifth-place votes (one point each).

Joel Embiid is the first player to win the Kia NBA MVP Award with the 76ers since Allen Iverson in the 2000-01 season.

Complete voting results ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/kko3o8tmxi
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) May 2, 2023

Last year, the St. Louis native finished No. 6. The only Duke basketball alum who has finished higher than Tatum's top two finishes was Grant Hill, who ended up at No. 3 in 1997 (below Karl Malone and Michael Jordan) while starring for the Detroit Pistons in only his third year as a pro.

It's worth noting that each of the three players ahead of Tatum this go-round — Embiid, Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo — is at least three years older than him.

On that note, and judging by Tatum's improvements from one season to the next in most statistical categories, it wouldn't be a surprise to see the four-time All-Star and reigning All-Star Game MVP be in the NBA MVP conversation for years to come.

His 30.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game this season were career-high averages. Most notably, the No. 3 pick from the 2017 NBA Draft became the first Celtics player and the first Duke basketball product in history to average more than 30 points per game.

Right now, though, Jayson Tatum has his eyes not on future MVP races but on trying to keep the Celtics' playoff journey alive.

Following his questionable crunch-time decision-making during Monday night's 119-115 home loss to the 76ers in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Semifinals clash, he and Boston look to even the series at 8 p.m. ET Wednesday (TNT) before heading to Philadelphia for Game 3 and 4.

Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country for daily Duke basketball content.

Published May 3, 2023

MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.