Jayson Tatum stole the show in Salt Lake City on Sunday night as the Celtics star turned in a record-setting, MVP performance to lift Team Giannis to a 184–175 victory over Team LeBron in the 2023 NBA All-Star Game.
In a showcase of 24 of the league’s best players, Tatum set himself apart with an all-time performance, pouring in an All-Star record 55 points to go with 10 rebounds and six assists. Tatum’s double nickel surpasses the previous record set by Anthony Davis’s 52-point effort in 2017.
After dazzling the crowd en route to a thrilling victory, Tatum earned an honor that would have made his idol proud as he was named the Kobe Bryant All-Star Game MVP for the first time in his career.
On a night where he made his fourth All-Star appearance, Tatum, who also debuted his first signature shoe, the JT1s, appeared to be on a mission to take home MVP honors. He finished the night shooting a red-hot 22-of-32 from the field and 10-of-18 from the three-point line.
In addition to setting the scoring record, Tatum managed to achieve another historical feat for the most points scored in a quarter in an All-Star game after exploding for 27 points in the third. He would later tie Davis’s record in the fourth quarter with a three before eventually breaking the mark after going 1-of-2 on a trip to the free throw line and a layup.
In the midst of a season where he is in the MVP conversation, Tatum made quite a statement with the NBA world watching and a few fellow MVP candidates on the floor.
On the year, Tatum is averaging 30.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists for the first-place Celtics (42–17), who hold the best record in the league at the All-Star break.
