Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum had a banner campaign in 2020-21 but all his efforts were not enough to earn him a precious All-NBA nod. Unlike other snubbed players who can be argued as deserving of an All-NBA spot, Tatum's situation is more complicated and it cost him a cold $32 million dollars.
Via Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe:
Interesting twist in the All-NBA voting. Tatum was eligible as a guard and forward and had more votes than Kyrie, who made the third team as a guard. But Tatum was slotted as a forward because that was the position where he received the most votes.
It's ironic that Tatum's versatility, which has served him well, was also the reason why he lost out on an All-NBA Team opportunity. The Celtics swingman is capable of playing shooting guard, small forward, and even power forward in some small-ball lineups.
While the playoffs are already out of the equation when it comes to voting, Tatum's performance in the first round further legitimized his stellar play in the regular season. He proved he's a big-time player who's ready for the moment.
It's unfortunate for Boston how injuries contributed to their string of bad luck when it mattered most. Kemba Walker was hurting while Jaylen Brown already saw his season ended prematurely. The Brooklyn Nets posed an enormous challenge but the presence of Brown and a healthy Walker could've made things more interesting.
Jayson Tatum averaged career-high marks of 26.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game for Beantown this season. A case can certainly be made for Tatum but there's always next season for the 23-year-old All-Star.
Follow Us
Subscribe