Jayson Tatum was named player of the month for February. THE Boston Celtics The star played at an elite level, as we have come to expect from him at this stage of the season.
Tatum played in 10 games in February, averaging 27.2 points, 8.9 rebounds and 6.7 assists. He shot 48% from the field and 35.1% from 3-point range. The Celtics have won nine of those 10 games, with their only loss coming against the the Los Angeles Lakers February 1st. Boston’s winning streak continued in March, where they beat the Dallas Mavericks And Warriors of the Golden State.
This is the second time Tatum has been named Player of the Month this season. He also won the award for October/November, after averaging 27.7 points, 8.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists through Boston’s first 18 games. Tatum has been named player of the month four times in his career, meaning he has doubled his total this season.
Jaylen Brown joins Tatum in gaining greater recognition. He was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week on Tuesday after having a strong three-game stretch that culminated with an offensive outburst against the Golden State Warriors on Sunday.
Since returning from the All-Star break, Tatum has found himself immersed in the MVP conversation. After all, he is the best player on the team with the best record in the league. It is entirely natural that his name is cited among the favorites for this coveted individual distinction.
Interestingly, Luka Doncic – a direct rival for the MVP, was named Western Conference Player of the Month, after producing exceptional counting stats on the offensive end.
Yet Tatum’s season stands out when you add the context of sacrifice. He’s part of a roster loaded with All-Star level talent. He plays elite level basketball on both sides of the ball while allowing his teammates to shine. Nonetheless, Boston’s goal remains a championship.
The individual accolades along the way won’t really be celebrated until the season is over and a banner is raised in the TD Garden.
