Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown Rank in Top 10 of ESPN's Latest NBA MVP Straw Poll
On Thursday, ESPN released their final MVP straw poll for the 2022-2023 season. The poll asked 100 media members to submit a ranked five-player ballot. The final results were calculated using the NBA’s post-season awards point system.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, who’ve led the Boston Celtics to a 52-24 record, both placed within the list’s top 10.
Tatum received 90 fourth-place votes, which definitively locked him into the fourth-place spot. He is distanced from third place, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and fifth place, Luka Doncic, by more than 200 points.
Tatum is averaging a career-high 30.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 4.7 assists. The St. Louis native was ESPN’s projected MVP in their first straw poll of the season, but now trails behind Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, and Antetokounmpo.
Brown debuted at tenth place in the rankings. He received 1 fourth-place vote, which put him ahead of Stephen Curry and Devin Booker.
This season, the two-time All-Star is averaging 26.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.4 assists. Like Tatum, the Celtics’ swingman is likely to earn an All-NBA team selection.
Check out the full list here.
Further Reading
Jayson Tatum Reacts to Celtics Potentially Letting Hope for the 1 Seed Slip in Loss vs. Wizards
Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Loss vs. Wizards: Cold Shooting Dooms Boston in Costly Defeat