Jayson Tatum’s comments suggest he was never going to have an issue with missing out on the Finals MVP award.
Speaking to ESPN’s Malika Andrews ahead of Game 5, Tatum said that while the award did matter, it wasn’t the main thing on his mind.
“It’s important, but it’s not the main thing,” Tatum said. “Isiah 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.
“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.”
It’s just as well that Tatum feels this way, because ultimately his teammate Jaylen Brown won the award instead of him.
Tatum averaged 22.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 7.2 assists over The Finals, while Brown put up 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5 assists.
Tatum struggled with his shooting, making just 38.8 percent of his shots from the field across the series. But he led Brown in points, rebounds and assists, while also becoming just one of six players to ever lead a championship team in all three categories.
The others to do it were LeBron James, Nikola Jokic, Larry Bird, Hakeem Olajuwon and Tim Duncan.
So while Tatum may not have won Finals MVP, he’s still in some pretty rare air.
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