ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith thinks Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum should get the nod and start over Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant in the All-Star Game.
Tatum and Durant are two of the top frontcourt vote-getters in the Eastern Conference along with Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid.
There are only three starting spots available among those four players and the current portion of the voting has Durant ranked number one, Antetokounmpo second, Embiid third and Tatum fourth.
Tatum is fourth in the league in scoring (30.8 ppg) compared to Durant in seventh (29.7) and averages more rebounds while producing similar assist numbers.
In an appearance on Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green’s podcast, Stephen A. Smith argued that even though Durant is leading in the polls, Tatum should start instead.
“I would have to remove KD. That says a lot about me because I think when KD is healthy, he’s the best on the planet and I think he’s one of the frontrunners for MVP.
“This is where I can pick Tatum over KD: similar stats but a better record. And by the way, the last time we saw the two of them against each other, Tatum swept them. That’s why.”
The first return of fan votes for All Star: pic.twitter.com/zj3lK2PKoa
— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) January 5, 2023
Jayson Tatum on track for an MVP-caliber season
Jayson Tatum is doing something no Boston Celtic has done in a full season: He’s averaging more than 30 points per game.
The 24-year-old is not only scoring the ball with elite style, but also has defense to match and is arguably the most valuable player in the NBA today, with an emphasis on the importance of two-way full-backs. .
Tatum’s new signature Jordan shoes will drop next month as he becomes the latest star to get his own silhouette to wear on the court.
Coming off the Celtics’ fourth straight win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday, Tatum marked his 13th straight game with at least 25 points and has scored the most points for a Celtic in the first half of the season.
The former Duke star is seeking revenge after a disappointing showing in the NBA Finals in June and has responded in the way all elite players do.
After a historic 2022 playoff run that saw Boston come up short in the NBA Finals, Tatum is hungry for revenge, and according to NBA betting sites, the Celtics are favorites to win the Larry Trophy. O’Brien this June.
Sitting fairly atop the Eastern Conference with the best record in the league (30-12), Tatum is the best player on the best team and is sure to mount a strong challenge to win MVP later this year.
Jayson Tatum on the Celtics win:
31 PTS10 REB4 AST pic.twitter.com/evbwUibLrJ
— NBA (@NBA) January 12, 2023
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