Jayson Tatum was named All-Star Game MVP on Sunday after the Boston star broke the previous All-Star Game points record, with Tatum scoring an incredible 55 points in Team Giannis’ victory.
For the first time this year, the All-Star draft was selected minutes before the game, with team captain Giannis Antetokounmpo selecting Jayson Tatum as his first pick.
The choice to go with the Celtics star was the best decision Giannis would make all night, as Tatum left the game with 55 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists in a dominating performance that deservedly earned him the award. Most Valuable Player of the Kobe Bryant All-Star game. .
Jayson Tatum wins Kobe Bryant All-Star Game MVP ???? pic.twitter.com/7dB4RcPvBa
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 20, 2023
Tatum didn’t realize the record until the fourth quarter, when teammate Damian Lillard told the Boston star to go chase the record:
“I found out in the middle of the room [about the record]Tatum said. “I think she was like 49 and give me [Lillard] it was like, ‘Hey, the record is 52.’ He was like, ‘Go get it.
JAYSON TATUM HAS SCORED THE MOST POINTS IN AN ALL-STAR GAME
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) February 20, 2023
“It’s extremely special to me, my first All-Star Game was in Chicago in 2020 when they renamed MVP in his honor. [Kobe]And I remember telling myself that one day I’m going to have to get one of those.”
Although parted ways with teammate and friend Jaylen Brown, Tatum was still unstoppable throughout the game and even took on Brown in some 1v1s that had everyone on their feet with world-class shooting on display.
“That was like another day at the office for us. Being on the same team for six years, we have played countless one-on-one games, skirmish games with each other. We have always brought out the best in each other.” Tatum said after the game.
Jayson Tatum vs. Jaylen Brown pic.twitter.com/qBlyda9Jwe
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) February 20, 2023
“So, that was a normal day for us. Just a myriad of people watching on one of the biggest stages.”
The previous record for points in an All-Star Game came from Anthony Davis, who was able to rack up a respectable 52 points in 2017, however this year Tatum broke the record after a 27-point performance in the third quarter.
The vote was unanimous for All-Star MVP, as Tatum got 11 votes from the media, with Donovan Mitchell winning the final vote, meaning Tatum was rightfully named MVP.
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