The Celtics have had their fair share of individual accolades this season.
Whether it’s weekly awards, monthly recognitions, or the fact that each member of their preferred starting five — Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Kristaps Porzingis — all landed in the top nine of All-Star voting in the Eastern Conference.
It’s just one of the perks of having such a talented team like Boston’s, especially when winning 64 games in a season.
With the regular season in the rearview, individual awards and honors will soon be announced, and it’s fair to expect the Celtics will be represented when that time comes.
Before we delve into predicting who might receive which awards, let’s first consider the new criteria. With the implementation of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, players must now meet a minimum games played threshold of 65 to be eligible for end-of-season awards. Additionally, the league has transitioned to positionless voting for All-NBA and All-Defensive teams. In previous years, voters selected two guards, two forwards, and one center for the three All-NBA teams and the two All-Defensive teams.
With that said, Porzingis will be ineligible. Some other notable names include Karl-Anthony Towns, Scottie Barnes, Jimmy Butler, Kyrie Irving, Darius Garland, Jamal Murray, Donovan Mitchell, Trae Young, Bradley Beal, Evan Mobley, Julius Randle, Khris Middleton, Joel Embiid, Lauri Markkanen, Brandon Ingram and Zach LaVine.
Now, let’s take a closer look at four Celtics likely to be recognized and the awards they could win.
Jayson Tatum - First-Team All-NBA
For a stretch in February, it looked like Tatum really had a chance to cement a legitimate MVP candidacy… Until Nikola Jokic ran away with it.
Although Tatum won’t be taking home the Michael Jordan Trophy, he will have a shot at his third consecutive First-Team All-NBA honor. It would be his fourth All-NBA selection of his career.
Tatum, who was voted a starter for this year’s All-Star game, averaged 26.9 points per game on 47.1% shooting – his best mark since his rookie season – along with 8.1 rebounds, a career-best 4.9 assists, and a +608 plus-minus, the fourth-highest mark in the NBA.
On the defensive end, the 6-foot-8 wing made his presence felt, ranking 11th in defensive wins shares and tallying 43 blocks and 75 steals.
As the top scorer, rebounder, and second in assists on a team that dominated its Conference by 14 games (the most significant disparity since the 1975-76 season), Tatum’s impact is undeniable.
Disregarding Tatum’s achievements due to his supporting cast is baseless. The Duke product is undoubtedly deserving of a First-Team All-NBA nod.
Jaylen Brown - Third-Team All-NBA
Brown’s situation is a bit trickier.
After earning Second-Team All-NBA honors last season, Brown’s numbers took a slight dip due to the arrivals of Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday and Derrick White’s continued offensive progress.
Despite a decrease in usage and scoring, Brown remained instrumental in uniting the Celtics both offensively and defensively. While the numbers may not fully quantify his impact, he arguably delivered his best season as a pro.
The 27-year-old averaged 23.0 points on a career-high 49.9% shooting, 5.5 rebounds, a career-best 3.6 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.5 blocks.
Brown emerged as a genuine two-way threat this season, consistently undertaking tough defensive assignments night after night. He held opponents to 4.8 makes per game on 44.8% shooting, on average, 2.5% below their expected output.
Brown’s growth as a player was evident. Although he may fall short of his All-Defense aspirations, his improvement on both ends of the floor is undeniable and should warrant consideration for All-NBA honors.
Derrick White - Second-Team All-Defense
If White hadn’t rested for a couple of games in the final weeks of the season, he probably would’ve topped the league in blocks by a guard for the second straight year. Instead, he concluded the season with 87 blocks, narrowly trailing Denver’s Peyton Watson (88) by just one, despite playing seven fewer games.
White totaled career-highs in blocks (87) and steals (74), averaging 1.2 and 1.0, respectively.
The 29-year-old held opponents to 6.3 makes per game on 45.1% shooting. His 480 contested shots ranked third in the NBA amongst guards.
Considering that he, statistically, had a better season defensively than he did last season, a year in which he earned Second-Team All-Defensive honors, White should be a lock to earn his second consecutive All-Defensive nod.
Traditionally, big men dominate defensive accolades due to their statistical impact, and the new positionless voting will probably lead to more size representation.
Unfortunately, with only two teams and ten spots available, it’s unlikely that Jrue Holiday will receive recognition despite his crucial role in Boston’s lethal backcourt. However, his impact is evident throughout Boston’s second-rated defense.
Brad Stevens - Executive of The Year
Breaking up a team that had reached five Eastern Conference Finals in seven seasons isn’t an easy decision, especially when parting ways with key players like the man dubbed the “Heart and Soul,” Marcus Smart, reigning Sixth Man of the Year Malcolm Brogdon, and an All-Defensive big in Robert Williams.
However, Stevens believed that acquiring Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday would be the missing pieces to elevate Boston to championship contention, and the results so far have supported that belief.
The Celtics were undoubtedly the most talented roster, finishing in the top two in offense (1st) and defense (2nd). Remarkably, 67.7% of the Celtics’ 64 wins came by double-digits, while they outscored opponents by +930 points this season (11.3 per game), boasting more 30-point leads than 10-point deficits.
With Jaylen Brown, Porzingis, and Holiday locked in for the future and Tatum due for a supermax this season, the Celtics have solidified their core for the foreseeable future. This is just the beginning of what could be a special era for the team.
Stevens has thrived since taking the reins as President of Basketball Operations, earning top-six finishes in award voting for his first two seasons in the role. This season seems poised to be the one where Stevens clinches the award, marking the first time a Celtics executive has done so since Danny Ainge’s win in the 2007-2008 season, coinciding with the team’s last championship victory.
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