Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum has gained support for the Most Valuable Player title, including from former Los Angeles Lakers champion Metta Sandiford-Artest, who has stated that Tatum deserves the MVP award via his X account.
Metta Sandiford-Artest expressed, "(Tatum) is the MVP right now. He should win if the season ended today."
In an earlier tweet, Sandiford-Artest also mentioned that Kawhi Leonard shouldn't win the award, but clarified that not winning it shouldn't take away from his reputation among NBA players.
“Kawhi is not the MVP, but he is the best in the league,” he wrote via his X account.
Tatum has a strong case for the award, as he has proven himself as the top player on the NBA's leading team. However, critics have highlighted that the strength of Tatum's supporting team compared to other candidates has hindered his chances.
When he was known as Metta World Peace, Sandiford-Artest won a championship with the Lakers in 2010, defeating the Celtics in seven games.
Kevin Durant Praised Jayson Tatum's Potential
Phoenix Suns superstar Kevin Durant also has high regard for Tatum. Prior to the Celtics' game against the Suns, Durant expressed his belief that Tatum will become one of the NBA's iconic figures for a long time during a conversation with Arizona Republic’s Duane Rankin.
“I’ve been in this league a long time now, and I know when it’s a passing of the guard. I know when the young dudes are going to come in and do the same thing the older guys are doing. He’s [Tatum] one of those guys that’s likely going to control the league for the next 10, 12 years and be a staple in our game and the history of our game,” Durant said via Rankin’s X account.
Durant himself has experienced firsthand how Tatum influences the game. Tatum and the Celtics defeated Durant during his time with the Nets in the 2022 NBA Playoffs' first round. In the prior postseason, Tatum delivered a 50-point performance against the Nets in their sole victory of the series.
Durant has not secured a win against Tatum since the Nets traded him to the Suns in 2023.
Jayson Tatum Stands Up for Grant Williams
Celtics’ color commentator Mike Gorman criticized former Celtic Grant Williams, explaining the reasons for his unpopularity.
“He had some issues in that area (that) if he doesn’t get rid of, he doesn’t have enough for teams to say, ‘Well okay, but despite that, we’re going to keep him here because he’s a great player.’ He’s not. He’s an extra. An eighth, ninth, or tenth guy on your roster, so those guys are very replaceable. The guy’s a bad locker room guy. If you’re a bad locker room guy, you’re an eighth or ninth guy, you’re not going to be the eighth or ninth guy for long because you’re not going to be on the team for long,” Gorman said on 98.5 The Sport’s Hub’s “Toucher & Hardy.”
Tatum disagreed with Gorman’s comments and took to his X account to defend his former Celtics teammate.
Grant Williams= Great teammate! https://t.co/JYHCavRNC3
— Jayson Tatum (@jaytatum0) March 13, 2024
Jaylen Brown supported Tatum's statement by reposting Tatum’s tweet.
