NBA: A way-too-early deep dive into the 2021-22 MVP award race
By Kyle McKee
NBA MVP odds: Jayson Tatum +2500
This one is a long shot, but hear me out. Say we see another injury-riddled season and Joel Embiid plays in only 40-50 games, the Nets and Lakers decide to rest their three superstars a good amount, the Warriors young players don’t have an immediate impact and Golden State struggles, and the Celtics surprise everyone by finishing in the top half of the Eastern Conference.
It’s a long, long shot, but it could happen. Plus, Jayson Tatum is really, really good.
Without Kemba Walker, Kyrie Irving, or Gordon Hayward, the Celtics are Tatum’s team. If they want to be any better than they were last season they need Tatum to take his game to the next level. At only 23 years old, Tatum will definitely take another leap, and based on his performance at the end of last season, in the Celtics play-in tourney game, and their first-round playoff matchup against the Nets, Tatum is going to be a superstar in this league.
He’s probably not worth a flyer, but I thought I’d mention him because I do think Tatum will have a big 2021-22 season.