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NBA MVP Ladder Week 21: New name enters the top five

By Michael Shearer

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MARCH 31: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks defends Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on March 31, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Mavericks defeat the Celtics 113-108. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MARCH 31: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks defends Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on March 31, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Mavericks defeat the Celtics 113-108. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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NBA MVP Ladder Week 21: New name enters the top five
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – FEBRUARY 27: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics dribbles the ball in the second quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on February 27, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana, NBA MVP Ladder Week 21: New name enters the top five. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

Week 21 NBA MVP Ladder: 5. Jayson Tatum

Rank last week: N/R

Pts/Rebs/Asts/Stls/Blks: 29.4/11.2/6.0/1.0/1.4

FG%/3P%/FT%: 54.7/30.9/72.1

Off EPM / Def EPM: +6.2/+1.2

Jayson Tatum leapfrogged his way onto the MVP ballot thanks to a blistering start to this post-break stretch. It was highlighted by an astounding 54-point performance against Kevin Durant and KyrieIrving this weekend. Tatum is the only player in the league with two 50+ point games this season.

The young star is averaging 34/7/5 in his last six games on 47%/37%/86% splits. He’s playing with peak confidence, and he’s shooting fewer bad midranges early in the shot clock. His defense has been as strong as always, and he’s even looking for teammates more often.

A key to Tatum’s future success is balancing his scoring and his passing instincts, and he’s found a much more equitable distribution during the last month or two of the season.

But the main focus for Tatum will always be putting the ball in the basket. This Tatum is a three-level scorer with both elite shotmaking and electric athleticism, and he’s carrying the Celtics to a late-season surge.

He’s contributing to winning, not just putting up empty stats. The Celtics are 15-5 in their last 20 games and sprinting up the East standings. They are somehow just a half-game out of homecourt advantage in the first round and 1.5 games behind the third-place Bucks.

Tatum likely is too far behind the leaders here to climb his way toward the top of the MVP ballot, but if the Celtics can snag a three or four-seed, he’ll be difficult to leave off entirely.