Celtics news: Jayson Tatum gets MVP endorsement after 50-point game

Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum stepped up when the team needed him the most, a trait that only few players in the NBA possess.

On Tuesday against the Washington Wizards, Tatum exploded for 50 points to propel his Celtics to the seventh seed and into the playoffs. The 23-year-old forward went 14-of-32 from the field and a perfect 17-of-17 from the free throw line to keep the Wizards at bay throughout the contest.

Following such showing, Wizards coach Scott Brooks couldn't help but be in awe of the youngster. In fact, he even erased the notion that Tatum is a “great young player” as he emphasized that the Celtics star is already one of the best players in the league and a future MVP.

“He's a great player. He's going to be an MVP in this league soon,” Brook said, per Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.

This is certainly a high praise, but it is not warranted. After all, Jayson Tatum has established himself as the face of the Celtics. He should only be able to move up as he gather more experience, especially in the playoffs.

Tatum has never missed the playoffs since entering the league in 2017, something that should only help him grow faster and become an even better player moving forward. Also, who could forget his performance against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2017 playoffs? He didn't show any sign of backing down against the King, a moment which gave Beantown fans a lot of hope about their franchise.

The former Duke standout has continuously improved each year since being drafted. With that said, it won't be surprising to see him vying for the MVP honor sooner rather than later. In fact, had the Celtics not struggled with injuries and got a better record, Tatum would probably be in the MVP conversation.