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Former NBA Star Makes Major Jayson Tatum Statement

Should Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum have an MVP award?

Joey Linn

May 11, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) talks to referee Zach
May 11, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) talks to referee Zach / David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
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There has never been official criteria for the NBA’s MVP award. Many argue it should be the best player on the best team that season, while others argue it should simply be the best overall player in the league that season regardless of team success. The winner seems to land somewhere in the middle most years, as the award typically goes to the player with the best combination of numbers, team success, and overall impact.

During a recent episode of his Gil’s Arena show, former NBA star and Memphis Grizzlies guard Gilbert Arenas called out the NBA for what he feels is inconsistency around the MVP award. 

“You tell them to not be selfish and play for yourself because we’re not gonna give you the [MVP], that’s what they did with Kobe [Bryant]… Like a Jayson Tatum… I’m sacrificing my 35, 30-something points to win. My team has been number one damn near every year. You haven’t even let me sniff it.”

Arenas also brought up Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who took his team to the first seed in the Western Conference this season, but finished second in MVP voting to Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic. The Boston Celtics have been at or near the top of the Eastern Conference several times in recent years, and while Tatum hasn’t had the same level of individual production that other MVP candidates have, Arenas is arguing that winning should be rewarded.

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Joey Linn
JOEY LINN

Title: Credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation Email: joeylinn52@gmail.com Education: Communication Studies degree from Biola University Location: Los Angeles, California Expertise: NBA analysis and reporting Experience: Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined Sports Illustrated's FanNation to cover the Clippers after the 2020-21 season. Graduating from Biola University in 2022 with a Communication Studies degree, Joey served as Biola's play-by-play announcer for their basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams during his time in school. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts, combined with his excellence in the classroom, earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time across multiple platforms, primarily serving as a credentialed Clippers beat writer.

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