Boston’s Jayson Tatum creates unwanted history for not winning the NBA Finals MVP

Jayson Tatum was on the wrong side of NBA history, despite being a key component in the Boston Celtics winning their first NBA Championship since 2008.

The Celtics won 106-88 on their home floor in the penultimate game, with Tatum leading his team over the line. The Celtics star scored 31 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and dished out 11 assists.

Despite Tatum leading his Celtics to the win in game five, his star-studded partner, Jaylen Brown, made the headlines by winning the NBA Finals MVP award.

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!

According to the NBA website, Brown played the same number of minutes as Tatum (44), scored ten fewer points (21), grabbed the same number of rebounds, and dished out six assists to Tatum's 11.

According to Bleacher Report, Brown said: "It was a full team effort, and I share this with my brothers and my partner in crime, Jayson Tatum."

Brown averaged 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and five assists per game, while Tatum averaged 22.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 7.2 assists throughout the series.

HoopsHype reports Tatum is the first player in NBA history to lead an NBA champion in total points, rebounds, and assists and not win the Finals MVP award.

Only Larry Bird, Hakeem Olajuwon, Tim Duncan, LeBron James (three times), and Nikola Jokic have led their teams in the three main statistical categories, and they all received the Finals MVP award.

Speaking to ESPN's Malika Andrews ahead of game five, Tatum explained that while the award did matter, it wasn't the main thing he was worried about.

According to ESPN, Tatum said: "It's important, but it's not the main thing. Isaiah Thomas didn't win Finals MVP every time. Tim Duncan didn't win Finals MVP every time. Larry Bird. Steph Curry only has one. Kobe won two out of five."

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!

"As a competitor, you want to win and accomplish everything in front of you. I wouldn't be the slightest bit sad that I didn't win Finals MVP. I would be ecstatic just to win the Finals."

Despite leading the Celtics in all the major categories, Tatum struggled for consistency in the Finals, scoring over 20 points in two of the five games in the series.

On the other hand, Jaylen Brown scored more than 20 points in all but one of the games in the series, including a 30-piece in game three to give the Celtics a commanding 3-0 lead.

Statmuse reports the Celtics had an impressive 16 wins and three losses in the NBA Finals in 2024, the second-best record of any team since the NBA moved to a best-of-seven series format.

The Boston Celtics have come so close in the last few years, but it seems like Tatum and Brown have found the perfect formula for winning success on the East Coast.

After missing out on the Bill Russell Finals MVP award in 2024, will Jayson Tatum eventually get his hands on the prized possession somewhere down the line?

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!