Jayson Tatum appears to be a man on a mission to begin the Boston Celtics 2024-25 campaign.
The Celtics superstar has averaged 30 points, 7.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists across eight games for Boston and made franchise history Saturday night after recording 29 points, seven rebounds and three assists against the Charlotte Hornets, according to NBC’s Nick Goss.
Tatum joined Celtics legend Larry Bird as the only two players to tally 210-plus points, 50-plus rebounds and 30-plus assists through the first seven games of the season.
Bird recorded 216 points, 67 rebounds and 40 assists to begin the 1984-85 campaign. The three-time NBA champion finished that season averaging 28.7 points, 10.5 rebounds and 6.6 per game en route to his second straight league MVP award.
Tatum scored 212 points, 53 rebounds, and 32 assists in the first seven games of this season, joining Bird in a unique feat after joining the Hall of Famer in exclusive company after the first two Celtics games.
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Boston got off to a perfect 2-0 and Tatum became only the second player ever in league history to log at least 62 points, 15 rebounds and 16 assists in the first two games to start a season. The other? You guessed it — Bird.
Tatum is seeking his first MVP. The closest Tatum has gotten to the accolade was when he finished fourth in voting at the conclusion of the 2022-23 season. If he keeps putting up the numbers he has and the Celtics keep winning, the award could finally be his this year.
Featured image via Brett Davis/Imagn Images
