After missing out on 2024 NBA Final MVP, can Jayson Tatum win it this year? With reports placing Tatum in and out of the top five in the current MVP race, his case seems solid. However, former Warriors star Nick Young feels Tatum will “never win” the MVP. But why does he feel that way?

Young took to X, dropping a fiery critique of the MVP race. “This MVP race weak in the NBA a guy like Jason Tatum could never win,” he wrote, pointing out why he believes Tatum’s achievements may fall short. According to Young, “bcuz they blowing teams out by 40 and can barely get his avg bcuz they not playing the 4q and teams like OKC gotta keep Shai in the game during a blow out to get his numbers…”

This comes right after Boston blew out the Golden State Warriors by 40 points, winning 125-85 on the MLK day. The game was won by the third quarter when Boston had managed to outscore 43-24 for a total of 97-63. Tatum and Jaylen Brown would sit out the fourth quarter as the Celtics went for a comfortable win. Young doesn’t believe that to be the situation at OKC, discrediting Shai Gilgeous-Alexander lead in the MVP run.

But per stats, the two have been logging in similar minutes, Tatum a minute or two more even. Shai has also reportedly sat out about 10 full 4th quarters. However, Young seems to have missed on that, raging at the MVP honors of late. “Make the NBA great again,” he calls, before taking a jibe at the previous year’s MVP.

The former Warriors star turned the spotlight on how MVP honors are decided, taking a shot at Nikola Jokic’s back-to-back wins. “If you giving the MVP to jokers just cuz he almost got a triple dub last yr and this yr you give it to him for avg a triple Westbrook should have 2 or 3 maybe if he was a foreigner he would have 3 ….” he added.

Young hasn’t been a fan of Jokic taking a lead in the MVP race either. With Jokic averaging 29.7 points, 13.7 rebounds, and 11.7 earlier this season and assuming the top spot, the former Warriors star had called out people for overlooking Russell Westbrook who had so often logged similar numbers for consecutive seasons. He argued that while the latter had been tagged for stat-padding, Jokic was given MVP honors. He has climbed down now, yet Young isn’t satisfied.

But where is Tatum in this year’s MVP race?

Where is Tatum in the MVP ladder?

The MVP race is heating up, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is leading the pack. The Thunder icon is putting up 31.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 6.1 assists. e’s been a defensive menace too. With 2 steals per game, including multiple 4- and 5-steal games, and ranking second among guards in total blocks.

Right behind him is Jocik, averaging 30.7 points, 13 rebounds, and 9.7 assists per game. Scoring nearly 10 points more than his career average, Jokic seems determined to keep the MVP crown within his grasp.

Sitting third is Giannis Antetokounmpo, averaging 31.3 points, 11.8 rebounds, and six assists this season. While minor injuries caused him to miss some time, he’s back in peak form. Giannis is currently the league’s top scorer and continues to dominate on both ends of the court.

Karl Anthony Towns and Victor Wembanyama follow next, with Jayson Tatum only slipping to 6th. Averaging 27.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 5.4 assists, Tatum has been consistent. He’s scored 20 or more points all but twice in the past 10 games.

Despite his lower workload due to the Celtics’ loaded roster, Tatum believes his contribution speaks for itself. As he noted, “other MVP candidates must do more to help their teams,” but Boston’s balance takes some weight off him. However can Tatum win this year’s MVP? or young’s take is right? Share your thoughts with us.