Star Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum is still in the race to win the NBA’s 2025 Most Valuable Player award, but he’s been slipping of late, according to at least some league analysts. Among them is Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale, who currently sees the St. Louis native in fourth place in the race at present, having fallen a spot from third overall in Favale’s last assessment of the field for MVP.
Just ahead of Dallas Mavericks star wing Luka Doncic (who is unlikely to win the award based on his injury history so far this season) and just behind Milwaukee Bucks star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, the ranking feels about right for Tatum, who has certainly not been playing the best ball of his current campaign in recent weeks.
“Tatum has firmly entrenched himself inside the top five of these MVP shindigs,” writes Favale. “The Boston Celtics are no worse than the league’s third-best team, and he’s the primary force driving their offense.”
“Much of what he does can be lost in the shuffle of the top-end talent he plays alongside,” adds the B/R analyst. “That is fair, to some extent. His workload at either end of the floor will never be as heavy as many of his peers, particularly as a playmaker and defender.”
“Still, Tatum’s perimeter shot-making is a boon for a Boston offense that has seen Jrue Holiday and Jaylen Brown slip from beyond the arc. Downing around 37% of your treys is a big deal when you’re launching more than 10 per game.”
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