MIAMI – Boston Celtics swingman Jayson Tatum has been named the inaugural winner of the Larry Bird Award as MVP of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at the end of the series on Sunday.
Tatum, 24, wore the Kobe Bryant bracelet when the Celtics beat the Miami Heat 100-96 in Game 7, and made one of the most important performances of his career: scoring 26 points, catching 10 rebounds and adding 6 assists in 46 minutes. . Tatum entered Game 7 with an average of 24.8 points, 8 rebounds and 5.5 assists and made great plays repeatedly when the Celtics needed them.
Tatum’s consistency throughout the series set him apart. Night after night, he acted in key moments, especially at the end of Game 7, as he hit several big jumpers and made strong defensive plays against Heat star Jimmy Butler. Tatum and Butler shared a handshake and a hug on the center court after the end of the series, showing mutual admiration that was evident in all series.
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With the Bird Trophy on his belt, Tatum has finally returned to the Celtics in the NBA Finals, where he now has a chance to consolidate his legacy in Boston. The first game against the Golden State Warriors is Thursday in San Francisco.
Although Tatum won the Bird Award, it was Butler’s performance that could last even longer in the annals of history. The 32-year-old scored 35 points and grabbed nine rebounds in Game 7, and entered the final contest averaging 24 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists in the series.
Butler’s series was made even more impressive by the fact that he faced right knee pain over the past week and missed the second half of Game 3 due to ongoing knee problems. Throughout the series, Butler imposed his will on the game and led the Heat to victories. In Miami’s first game win, Butler racked up 41 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists in 41 minutes. In Game 6, with the Heat on the verge of elimination, Butler played arguably the best game of his career, scoring 47 points, catching 9 rebounds and delivering 8 assists in front of a shrill Boston crowd for deliver the Heat to the game 7.
In the end, it was Tatum who got the best of Butler and the Heat, and took some revenge on Miami’s triumph in the 2020 Eastern Conference Finals.