Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
Over the past four seasons, Jayson Tatum has finished in the top six of MVP voting each year, including two fourth-place finishes. Unfortunately, the Boston Celtics star is unlikely to see the court in the upcoming campaign, as he recovers from an Achilles tendon injury.
However, that hasn’t stopped former NBA champion Chris Bosh from declaring that Tatum is still the most likely candidate to become the next American-born MVP of the NBA.
Bosh’s comments came during a conversation with MassLive’s Souichi Terada at Mohegan Sun.
“Jayson Tatum, of course, but he’s got his injury,” Bosh said. “It’s really, really tough, especially with a thing like the MVP trophy. You saw who I teamed up with, so it’s very, very difficult. There is a section of young guys that the middle section, the guys in their mid-20s. It’s their time to put their stamp on the game.”
Tatum is unlikely to be back to his best until the 2026-27 season. Even then, it may take a few months for him to reach the level we’ve become accustomed to seeing from him. Nevertheless, if Tatum can rediscover similar production to what we’ve seen in recent years, he will undoubtedly be among the MVP candidates in the coming years.
Whether he can win the award will remain to be seen.
Jordan Walsh Provides Update on Celtics’ Tatum
During a recent appearance on the “Celtics Talk” podcast, Celtics forward Jordan Walsh provided a positive update on the All-Star’s recovery.
“We’ve seen him so often,” Walsh said. “I’ve seen him from when he messed up his Achilles to now, and it’s a big difference. He’s moving around way better. So, he’s progressing well. I’m definitely happy to see him getting back healthy. To see him in the gym definitely sets a precedent for everybody else. If a guy is hurt and trying to get back, then you can do the same thing. Like, you’re perfectly healthy, you should be doing the same thing.”
Tatum underwent surgery less than 24 hours after suffering the injury. That should bode well for his chances of reaching the All-NBA level he was playing at before getting hurt. However, there’s no guarantee he will be back to that type of player during his first season back on the court. It may take time for MVP-level Tatum to re-emerge.
Analyst’s Concern Over Celtics’ Future With Tatum
According to Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes, Tatum’s injury has all but ended the Celtics’ chances of winning another championship in the near future.
“Tatum feels like a mainstay because of his stature in Boston and because of the contract that’ll keep him maxed out through 2030, but everything else is going to change for the worse by default,” Hughes wrote. “Boston had loads of deep playoff runs with Tatum at the forefront, and it won a title in 2024. Another one won’t arrive until long after Tatum is either gone or reduced to second-option status.”
Writing Tatum off before he’s even back on the court is a bold strategy. He’s young enough and committed enough to hit the ground running once he’s medically cleared. In truth, the Celtics’ biggest task will be rebuilding a championship roster.
It’s doubtful there is any concern over whether Tatum can still be the leading star on the team. After all, he isn’t the first player to suffer an Achilles injury. Modern medical science should allow for a full recovery. So, unless proven otherwise, Tatum should still be seen as Boston’s star player, at least for the next six or seven years.