For the third consecutive season, Jayson Tatum has secured a spot on the All-NBA First Team. Tatum becomes only the sixth Celtic in history to receive this honor at least three times, joining the elite ranks of Bob Cousy (10), Larry Bird (nine), John Havlicek (four), and Bill Sharman (four). With his third selection, Tatum ties Ed Macauley and Bill Russell – yes, that Bill Russell – for the fifth-most First Team selections in franchise history. Every player on that list is a Hall of Famer.
This recognition marks Tatum’s fourth career All-NBA selection, having previously earned third-team honors for the 2019-20 season. Among active players, Tatum’s four All-NBA selections trail only Luka Doncic (5), Kawhi Leonard (6), Anthony Davis (5), Nikola Jokic (6), Stephen Curry (10), Chris Paul (11), James Harden (7), Giannis Antetokounmpo (8), Kevin Durant (11), and LeBron James (20).
The former number three overall pick finished sixth in MVP voting this season, averaging 26.9 points on 47.1% shooting from the field – his best mark since his rookie season – with 8.1 rebounds, a career-best 4.9 assists, en route to a +608 plus-minus.
This year’s selection will not affect Tatum’s looming supermax extension. After making the All-NBA team last year, he became eligible to sign a five-year $315M extension this offseason.
Tatum was joined by Antetokounmpo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of Oklahoma City, Doncic, and Jokic on the First Team this season. Tatum received 65 first-place and 34 second-place votes, giving him 427 points, the fifth-highest total.
Tatum’s All-NBA selection comes at a convenient time, as Boston’s superstar has faced intense, unwarranted scrutiny from both media and fans. Another All-NBA honor further solidifies his already impressive resume as he competes in his fifth career Eastern Conference Finals.
Since entering the league, Tatum has accumulated the most wins (regular season and postseason), earned five All-Star appearances, and made an NBA Finals appearance.
At 26, his trajectory is promising, especially considering that LeBron James won his first title at 27, Stephen Curry at 26, Kevin Durant at 28, and Michael Jordan also at 28. Tatum’s remarkable success in such a short span often goes underappreciated, as does the consistent success he has brought to Boston.
Speaking of underappreciated, Jaylen Brown’s season did not receive the recognition it deserved regarding All-NBA selections.
It’s head-scratching how a supposed “Super Team” that won 64 games, finishing seven games ahead of the rest of the league, with 42 of their 64 wins (67.7%) coming double-digits, outscoring opponents by +930 points this season — the fifth-highest scoring margin in NBA history — finished with just one All-NBA player, while multiple Play-In players got in.
But nonetheless, Brown continues to be overlooked.
Brown, who earned Second-Team All-NBA honors a season ago, paving the way for him to sign the richest contract in NBA history over the offseason, just missed the cut for a spot on the Third Team by 20 points. The Third Team included Devin Booker, Steph Curry, Tyrese Haliburton, LeBron James, and Domantas Sabonis.
Brown’s season and his efforts in propelling a 64-win team deserved recognition. Despite experiencing a slight decrease in his numbers due to taking on a lesser role with the additions of Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday, the 27-year-old averaged 23.0 points on a career-best 49.9% shooting, with 5.5 rebounds. He also achieved career-best numbers in assists with 3.6 per game.
On the defensive end, Brown set the tone for Boston’s second-ranked defense, frequently assuming the responsibility of the opposing team’s top player and doing a commendable job. The California product held opponents to 44.8% shooting, a figure 2.4% below their expected output, with 1.2 steals per game, matching his personal best. As a result, Brown received three first-place votes and one second-place vote for the All-Defensive teams.
Brown missed out on a contract incentive that could have earned him up to $2.2 million because he was left off the All-NBA team.
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