Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Loss to Nuggets crushed Jayson Tatum's MVP candidacy

By Adam Taylor | Last updated 3/8/24

Two teams widely expected to face off in the NBA Finals, the Nuggets and Celtics put together another classic — with Denver coming away victorious on Thursday — thus sweeping the season series against Boston.

Jayson Tatum struggled to make an impact for the second straight meeting between the championship hopefuls. His shots weren't falling, and turnovers crept into his game.

On Friday's episode of ESPN's First Take, Stephen A. Smith questioned whether Tatum still has a shot at winning the 2024 MVP Award.

"I think he's put it in grave jeopardy," Smith said. "It's not a finished deal. There's still enough games for him to go to make amends...You're 0-2 against Denver this year. You're 0-1 against OKC. You're 1-1 against the Minnesota Timberwolves...I've been big on Jayson Tatum needing to be considered as the leader for the MVP vote. Best player on the best team in the NBA. But the best team in the NBA is 0-2 against the reigning, defending NBA champions."

.@stephenasmith says Jayson Tatum's MVP case is in "grave jeopardy" after his performance against Denver pic.twitter.com/hq8DrbjI8B
— First Take (@FirstTake) March 8, 2024

Tatum, 26, plays on the league's deepest team with an NBA-best record (48-14). It makes sense that he takes a step back when one of his teammates has the hot hand, as Jaylen Brown dropped 41 points against the Nuggets.

Part of being a leader is empowering those around you to succeed. Nevertheless, Tatum has undoubtedly been disappointed in his two appearances against Denver this season.

With so much depth on Boston's roster, Tatum was out of reach for the MVP Award. Other talents around the league are producing more dominant seasons, with Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander likely at the top of that list.

One poor performance probably won't derail Tatum's momentum in the MVP race. However, the inevitable questions surrounding his ability to produce in big games have already begun to surface.

Tatum needs to prove himself in the coming months. Otherwise, his reputation around the league could suffer.

Perhaps a Finals MVP is more likely for Tatum at this point of the season, assuming he can get there. That would quickly end any narratives surrounding his production against elite teams.

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