Jayson Tatum Captures The Kobe Bryant All-Star MVP, Says Focus Is On Making Another Finals Run

Jayson Tatum said he was leaving Utah with something to show for it.

After finding out he would be participating in the 3-point contest and starting in his fourth career All-Star game, his competitive nature took over. He wasn’t leaving Salt Lake City empty-handed, so he made sure to capture the trophy he’s always wanted.

Just 24 hours after an uninspiring performance in the shootout, Tatum stepped on the floor and decided Sunday would be a record-breaking night. His 55 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists led Team Giannis to a victory over Team LeBron in a game that was stress-free and void of defensive intensity from the opening tip.

Tatum eclipsed the record for most points scored in an All-Star game, which was previously held by Anthony Davis (52). He revealed that his All-Star teammate Damian Lillard came up to him midway through the fourth quarter and informed him of Davis’s scoring record, telling him to “go get it.”

To get extra nerdy for a second, although the game doesn’t warrant it, Tatum’s 55 points came on just 31 shot attempts (1.8 points per shot), while Davis’s 52 points came on 39 attempts (1.3 PPS).

So not only was Tatum letting everything fly, but he was doing it more efficiently than any high-volume shooter we’ve seen during this event. He drilled 10 threes, which was second to only Steph Curry’s 16 from last year’s All-Star game in Cleveland — which reminds me, it’s a total shame Curry wasn’t available for this weekend so we could see him put on a show.

Tatum, who Giannis Antetokounmpo selected with his first pick in the league’s new pickup-style draft, was named the MVP for his lights-out shooting. As he hoisted the Kobe Bryant All-Star MVP trophy over his head, he couldn’t help but think about his favorite player and the impact Bryant had on his childhood.

“It’s extremely special for me,” Tatum told reporters after the win. “My first All-Star Game was in Chicago in 2020 when they renamed the MVP after him. I remember telling myself that day that I’ve got to get one of those before I’m done. To be able to wear my signature shoe today and break the record, and take home this award of somebody that I idolized, it’s a hell of a day.”

Turning 25 in a little over two weeks, the superstar forward is at the peak of his powers and about to enter the prime of his career. It was only a matter of time before he landed his first signature sneaker. Under the Jordan Brand umbrella, he sported the “Pink Lemonade” colorway of the JT1. It’s technically the lightest basketball shoe on the Jordan basketball line:

Did anyone else outside of his camp know the shoe’s debut was set for All-Star Sunday?

“Yeah, I told my coaches and I told my friends,” he said. “They all knew I was going to wear my shoe today, so I had a little more motivation to play well in the debut of my signature shoe. I wanted to win MVP. I didn’t think I would get 55 … but that’s icing on the cake.”

Only six years into his career, Tatum continues to stack up the accolades. He’s now the youngest Celtic in franchise history to notch four All-Star selections. Larry Bird did make the All-Star team in each of his first four seasons, including the rare rookie selection, but he was already 26 years old by his fourth season.

Tatum is squarely in the mix for this year’s regular season MVP award, too. There’s a very little chance he wins it (see: Nikola Jokić), but averaging 30.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 4.5 assists on 60.8% true shooting for the best team in basketball is one incredible feat.

Reflecting on all of his success after just five and a half years of play, he couldn’t help but poke fun at the comments regarding his age.

“I guess I’m not 19 anymore,” he said. “But yeah, I say it all the time. I’m extremely grateful and blessed to be in this situation. I’m not too far removed from being a kid in St. Louis with essentially a ball and a dream, just dreaming about these moments of being here. And living out that dream in reality is hard to describe. I try not to really think about the things I’ve accomplished. I never want to get complacent. I’m always chasing something … chasing more. But I thank God every day that I’m in this position that he surrounded me with great friends and family and put me in the right position and just try to have fun. I just remember what I’m doing it for.”

Despite this year’s All-Star game lacking excitement and intrigue for 75% of the night, there were a few bright spots. One of them was not defensive pride.

But it did include Tatum and his long-time friend and teammate, Jaylen Brown.

Drafted to opposite teams, they gave the fans a glimpse of their practices in Boston:

The dynamic duo went back-and-forth, in strictly isolation, for the final 1:07 of the third quarter. Unless a new event is added for All-Star Saturday — which may need to happen just to replace the awful Skills Challenge — it’s closest the NBA will get to a King of the Court battle.

“That was like another day at the office for us,” Tatum said with a smile. “Been on the same team for six years now. We’ve played countless one-on-one games and scrimmages against each other. We’ve always kind of brought the best out of each other. So it was a normal day for us. Just millions of people watching on one of the biggest stages, so we had a little fun with it.”

Most players would say the best part of All-Star weekend, aside from the fan interactions, is that it gives them time to be around other superstars and friends around the league – particularly those you only see a couple times each year. After all, the NBA is a fraternity more than anything, and we’re seeing closer friendships among the top-tier guys than previous eras.

While Tatum enjoys being around his contemporaries, it’s meaningful to him that he gets to spend these All-Star moments with the guy he goes to war with during the regular season.

“Three of the four times I’ve been an All-Star was with a teammate, two with (Brown), one with Kemba (Walker),” Tatum said. “Those are the best, sharing it with somebody that you spend every day of the week with essentially. Extremely happy for him. We’ve talked about it.”

Some of the superstars revealed over the weekend they had plans to take a quick vacation after All-Star Sunday. With only 48 days left until the regular season finale, it’s understandable why some high-usage players want to get off the grid and get a few days of rest on the beach. Games won’t resume until Thursday, February 23.

For Tatum, however, the All-Star break ended the moment he left the podium. A player starving to avenge a Finals loss from the previous year is simply not wired to take a full week off.

“Now, it’s go time – we have to be on the same page,” Tatum said about he and Brown sharing that mindset. We’ve got to have one common goal, and that’s to win a championship. This was a good break for us mentally and physically, but it’s time to get back to work.”

In order to put his team in the best possible spot to repeat as East champs, Tatum knows the Celtics can’t relax. They are currently a half-game ahead of the Milwaukee Bucks for the top seed (and homecourt advantage) in the conference. With the Bucks winning 12 straight games before the break, the Celtics know how critical these next seven weeks will be.

“I think historically, or at least since I’ve been in the league, the team that has clicked in this last stretch, or the one that has kind of peaked and played their best of the season going into the playoffs is usually the team that wins it all,” he said. “So this stretch is important. You want to be as healthy as possible going into the playoffs. You want to be playing your best basketball, individually and as a group. So that’s what we’re trying to do.”

Although Boston was two wins shy last year of capturing its first championship with the Tatum-Brown core, the same logic applied to last year’s Celtics. They came out of the All-Star break in mid-February and put the pedal to the metal.

Yes, Boston was already in the early stages of their famous run during the second half of the season, which started on January 29, but they decimated teams after All-Star weekend to become the East favorites. The Celtics went 17-5 over their final 22 games last year, holding the No. 1 offensive rating and No. 3 defensive rating during that stretch. Their point differential per 100 possessions was 12.7, more than double the next-highest East team after the break (Philadelphia at 5.2).

But if you recall from last spring, the Golden State Warriors only finished the season 11-12 with the 18th-best point differential. Most of that was due to various injuries popping up in March, which ultimately got corrected in time before the postseason.

Maybe there’s no evidence to suggest a dominant post All-Star record matters. Perhaps it’s just health, optimal timing, and some shooting luck. Either way, the Celtics will probably need to secure the top seed for a potential matchup with Giannis and the Bucks.

Behind Tatum’s excellence and how seriously he’s taking this final stretch of games, they appear to be in great hands.