For the fourth consecutive season, Jayson Tatum has been named to the All-NBA First Team.
He joins Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder), Nikola Jokic (Nuggets), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks), and Donovan Mitchell (Cavaliers) on this year’s First Team. Tatum was one of four unanimous selections, as he, Gilgeous-Alexander, Jokic and Antetokounmpo got First Team votes on all 100 ballots.
Tatum, who was named to the All-NBA Third Team in 2019-20, now has five career All-NBA selections — the sixth-most in Celtics franchise history. He trails only Bob Cousy (12), Bill Russell (11), John Havlicek (11), Larry Bird (10), and Bill Sharman (7), all of whom are in the Basketball Hall of Fame.
His four First Team selections move him past Ed Macauley and Bill Russell for sole possession of fifth-most in Celtics history, behind Cousy (10), Bird (9), Havlicek (4), and Sharman (4).
At just 27 years old, Tatum is now one of only 43 players in NBA history to earn at least four First Team All-NBA nods.
The six-time All-Star averaged 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, and a career-high 6.0 assists over 72 games this season. He led the 61-win Celtics – the most by a reigning champion since the Golden State Warriors in the 2015-16 –in total points (1,932), rebounds (623), assists (431), and steals (76).
His two triple-doubles matched his career total entering the season, while his 31 double-doubles tied a career-high set last year. Tatum was one of just four players to average at least 26 points, eight rebounds, and six assists, joining Antetokounmpo, Jokic, and Luka Doncic.
Boston outscored opponents by a staggering +534 with Tatum on the floor. He finished fourth in MVP voting — tied for the highest placement of his career.
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