Boston Celtics ahead Jayson Tatum entered the 2024-25 season with arguably extra motivation than anybody else within the NBA, and it’s exhibiting.
Tatum was named Jap Convention Participant of the Month for October and November, marking the fifth time within the 26-year-old’s profession during which he’s been bestowed with the glory. It shouldn’t come as a shock contemplating the management that’s gone into making the Celtics the (present) second-best workforce within the league at 17-4 is attributed to Tatum’s red-hot begin, and it’s not even up for query.
Boston’s five-time All-Star is main the workforce in factors (28.4), rebounds (8.6), assists (5.6), steals (1.3) and double-doubles (9), proving Tatum to be a lot hungry even coming off a championship lap final season. Tatum began in every of the primary 21 video games, carried over his efficient facilitating and rim-protecting from the playoffs and sprinkled a noticeably extra dominant offensive strategy on prime of all of it.
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The gasoline from being snubbed by USA Basketball head coach Steve Kerr on this previous summer season’s Olympics, questioned after signing a record-large $315 million contract and scrutiny of coming quick within the NBA Finals MVP race have all translated. It’s unleashed a beast inside Tatum that’s allowed him to place the league on discover and beat out Giannis Antetokounmpo, LaMelo Ball, Jalen Brunson, Jalen Brunson, Jalen Brunson, Pascal Siakam and Franz Wagner — the opposite East nominees.
Tatum has shot effectively as effectively, going 45.4% from the sector, 37.4% from 3-point territory and 80.2% from the free-throw line. His most notable shot, to date, got here in opposition to the Toronto Raptors on Nov. 16 when Tatum knocked down a 29-foot three to beat the buzzer in extra time and provides Boston a 126-123 victory.
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Higher but, issues relating to a doable championship hangover and never having beginning middle Kristaps Porzingis for the primary 18 video games by no means caught as much as the Celtics. Tatum’s constant management and poise have made it immensely tough for the skin discourse to tear Boston and as a substitute have stored the Celtics on monitor.
Tatum now sits second to Celtics legend Larry Chook (seven) for the franchise lead in Participant of the Month nods.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder took residence the month-to-month honor within the Western Convention.
