Jayson Tatum’s MVP-Caliber Start With Celtics Already Rewarded

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum entered the 2024-25 season with arguably more motivation than anyone else in the NBA, and it’s showing.

Tatum was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for October and November, marking the fifth time in the 26-year-old’s career in which he’s been bestowed with the honor. It shouldn’t come as a surprise considering the leadership that’s gone into making the Celtics the (current) second-best team in the league at 17-4 is attributed to Tatum’s red-hot start, and it’s not even up for question.

Boston’s five-time All-Star is leading the team in points (28.4), rebounds (8.6), assists (5.6), steals (1.3) and double-doubles (nine), proving Tatum to be plenty hungry even coming off a championship lap last season. Tatum started in each of the first 21 games, carried over his effective facilitating and rim-protecting from the playoffs and sprinkled a noticeably more dominant offensive approach on top of it all.

The fuel from being snubbed by USA Basketball head coach Steve Kerr in this past summer’s Olympics, questioned after signing a record-large $315 million contract and scrutiny of coming short in the NBA Finals MVP race have all translated. It’s unleashed a beast within Tatum that’s allowed him to put the league on notice and beat out Giannis Antetokounmpo, LaMelo Ball, Jalen Brunson, Jalen Brunson, Jalen Brunson, Pascal Siakam and Franz Wagner — the other East nominees.

Tatum has shot efficiently as well, going 45.4% from the field, 37.4% from 3-point territory and 80.2% from the free-throw line. His most notable shot, thus far, came against the Toronto Raptors on Nov. 16 when Tatum knocked down a 29-foot three to beat the buzzer in overtime and give Boston a 126-123 victory.

Better yet, concerns regarding a possible championship hangover and not having starting center Kristaps Porzingis for the first 18 games never caught up to the Celtics. Tatum’s consistent leadership and poise have made it immensely difficult for the outside discourse to rip Boston and instead have kept the Celtics on track.

Tatum now sits second to Celtics legend Larry Bird (seven) for the franchise lead in Player of the Month nods.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder took home the monthly honor in the Western Conference.