So… I just bet Jayson Tatum to win the NBA MVP award this season.
I couldn’t help it. The odds were looking me dead in the eye – and, as a Boston fan, I just had to pull the trigger.
Tatum currently has the sixth highest odds to win the award according to our exclusive wagering partners at BetOnline.ag. Here’s the list:
2022 NBA MVP Odds
Luka Doncic +450
Joel Embiid +600
Giannis Antetokounmpo +650
Nikola Jokic +1000
Zion Williamson +1000
Jayson Tatum +1200
Like I said, I sort of just went for it here. I love this Celtics team’s chances, and needed an added rooting interest in the team. So, in an effort to talk myself into this, here are four reasons why Tatum will win MVP in 2022-2023:
4. His age
At the ripe age of 24, Tatum is right in the MVP-winning sweet spot. Sure, there’s been outliers every so often (like Derrick Rose in 2010), but every winner since then has been between the ages of 24 and 28.
Betting is all about trends, and this is a trend I’m willing to hop on. Want another one? The last two MVP winners have gone back-to-back (Giannis ’18 & ’19, Jokic ’20 & ’21). If Tatum wins it this year, he could set himself up as a two-time MVP instantly.
3. His rebounds and assists continue to go up
Believe it or not, the MVP award is not as simple as being the highest scoring player in a season. Although it’s not really a “defensive” award, the voters take other statistics like rebounding and assists into account.
This is where Tatum can shine this year. His rebound and assist numbers have increased season-by-season over the first six years of his career. In bold, you can see Tatum’s year-by-year improvement in both categories:
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–18 | Boston | 80 | 80 | 30.5 | .475 | .434 | .826 | 5.0 | 1.6 | 1.0 | .7 | 13.9 |
| 2018–19 | Boston | 79 | 79 | 31.1 | .450 | .373 | .855 | 6.0 | 2.1 | 1.1 | .7 | 15.7 |
| 2019–20 | Boston | 66 | 66 | 34.3 | .450 | .403 | .812 | 7.0 | 3.0 | 1.4 | .9 | 23.4 |
| 2020–21 | Boston | 64 | 64 | 35.8 | .459 | .386 | .868 | 7.4 | 4.3 | 1.2 | .5 | 26.4 |
| 2021–22 | Boston | 76 | 76 | 35.9 | .453 | .353 | .853 | 8.0 | 4.4 | 1.0 | .6 | 26.9 |
I expect those numbers to continue going up in 2022-23.
2. Celtics improved supporting cast
With all due respect to Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart, Malcolm Brogdon is the best playmaker Tatum has ever played with during his six year NBA career.
During the Celtics final two preseason games, Brogdon had 18 assists. Here’s a look at one of them – to none other than Jayson Tatum:
Players like Payton Pritchard, Grant Williams, and Sam Hauser are all expected to take a leap this year as well. Their improvement, specifically from behind the three point line, will allow Tatum plenty of opportunities to prove his worth.
1. He’s the unquestioned best player on a top three NBA team
Here’s where everything comes together. Jayson Tatum is a star in this league. He’s a 3x NBA All-Star, was First-Team All-NBA last season, and is undeniably the Celtics best player.
He also plays on a top three NBA team. The only teams I’d take ahead of Boston right now are Golden State and Milwaukee. Tatum is going to shine in 2022-2023 season, and he’s going to be able to do it on the biggest stage with the brightest lights.
Moral of the story? Use this piece to convince yourself to take Tatum +1200 to win MVP.
Make sure to follow Mike on Twitter @mikekadlick, and follow @CelticsCLNS for the latest up-to-date Celtics news!
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