Jayson Tatum breaks All-Star Game record with 55 points, wins MVP
The Celtics’ Charles Macauley won the first ever NBA All-Star Game MVP at the Boston Garden back in 1951. Over the next 31 years, a Celtic would win the award seven more times. Bob Cousy (’54 and ’57), Bill Sharman (’55), Bill Russell (’63), Dave Cowens (’73), Nate “Tiny” Archibald (’81), and Larry Bird (’82).
After a 41 year drought, Jayson Tatum will bring the trophy for what is now known as the Kobe Bryant Award back to Boston. Tatum, a 24 year-old already playing in his fourth All-Star Game, dropped 55 points, breaking the previous record of 52 set by Anthony Davis in 2017.
The highlight of the night came when he and friend/teammate Jaylen Brown went back and forth playing one-on-one, to the point where the other eight players on the court just stood and watched. Also JB calling JT “too small” was pure comedy:
Tatum also made a statement early on in the first quarter after a self alley-oop by LeBron James, responding with one of his own:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8h_P3r6EOwY
Team Giannis (Tatum’s team) came away with the win over Team LeBron (Brown’s team). The C’s have another three days off before they’re back in action this Thursday against the Pacers in Indiana.