Jayson Tatum has openly discussed his MVP aspirations and how he is prioritizing team success above personal accolades.
Despite finishing outside the top five in MVP voting last season, Tatum was a key contributor in scoring, assists, and rebounds throughout the regular season.
He is not seeking individual recognition at the expense of the team.
“I’m not chasing MVP at the cost of our team,” Tatum stated following a preseason victory over the Nuggets. “But if I am in the MVP conversation, it means we are one of the top teams. It means I am playing the right way, everyone on the team is thriving, and we are heading in the right direction.”
Tatum is widely regarded as the top player on the Celtics, and many expected him to reach new heights last season. However, his teammate Jaylen Brown received ECF MVP and Finals MVP honors.
“Everyone should have personal goals,” Tatum emphasized. “We are all mature enough to understand that individual success should not impede our collective goal of surpassing last year’s achievements and aiming to be even better this year.”
“Whether it’s making the All-Defensive team, being an All-Star, or becoming MVP, everyone should strive for those goals. It signifies a remarkable year, where you are excelling and bringing out the best version of yourself, which is what we want from everyone.”
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