The NBA community is not very pleased with the credit that Jayson Tatum is being given. With the 2024-2025 season coming to an end, the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics enter the postseason looking to win their second title in a row.
Although there is no getting around the fact that Tatum is one of the best players in the NBA and the face of his franchise, a recent MVP poll had him ranked a little too high for some to handle.
Does Jayson Tatum Belong in the MVP Race?
Based on their performances this season, Nikola Jokić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have emerged as the top competitors in a recent MVP ladder. Additionally, Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks held the third spot, and Tatum was given the fourth position.
https://t.co/wWGNmWnCY9’s updated MVP Ladder:
1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
2. Nikola Jokic
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo
4. Jayson Tatum
5. Donovan Mitchell
6. LeBron James
7. Stephen Curry
8. Cade Cunningham
9. Karl-Anthony Towns
10. Anthony Edwards— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 11, 2025
Upon noticing that the Celtics star was ranked higher than expected on the MVP ladder, fans took to social media and attacked Tatum. While many had other problems with the list, Tatum’s ranking generated quite a lot of reactions from fans.
“tatum not even the 4th best player on his team by the way,” said one fan.
tatum not even the 4th best player on his team by the way
— desire (@dgsire) April 11, 2025
Since the Celtics hold the second-best record in the Eastern Conference, and Tatum averages 27.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 6.0 assists, his position on the MVP ladder makes sense. However, fans seem to dislike Tatum more than most other stars in the league.
“Tatum being in the top 5 is still embarrassing 😂😂,” said one fan.
“Why is Tatum on here?” questioned another user on X.
Why is Tatum on here?
— ⁷ (@ChetGotNext) April 11, 2025
The reasons behind this sentiment are multifaceted. Some fans reportedly view him as “corny” for emulating Kobe Bryant. Additionally, the Celtics’ overall dominance might lead some to downplay individual player success on the roster.
Donovan Mitchell, LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Cade Cunningham, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Anthony Edwards rounded out the top 10 MVP contenders on the ladder.
Despite the criticism, Tatum also has his share of supporters who believe he is a legitimate MVP candidate and is having an underrated season. As the top player on one of the top teams in the league, that’s typically a formula that results in MVP votes. Under that context, is it really surprising to see him here?
Ultimately, the arguments surrounding Tatum’s ranking take a backseat to the primary debate of who should win the MVP award between Jokić and Gilgeour-Alexander. With the regular season nearing its conclusion, the MVP race is anticipated to be closely contested.