Jayson Tatum

Forced to sweat through Game Three’s final minutes with their once-commanding 18-point lead all-but-erased, the Indiana Pacers found themselves on the wrong end of the horror movie plot with the closely-approaching Boston Celtics breathing down their necks. In one cruel, yet perfectly-poetic sequence, Jayson Tatum showed them what happens when you follow the advice to not look back. Reaping the benefits as the game’s No. 1 scorer, Tatum curls off of a screen, powering through his drive with enough intent to attract three different Pacers defenders. Keeping his true intentions hidden, Tatum uncorks a flawlessly-placed behind-the-back dime to his wide-open teammate far along the left corner, gifting him the opportunity to bury a triple, slicing Indiana’s lead to just two. Admittedly a fan of the Game Three atmosphere, Tatum helped the crowd-silencing Celtics remain undefeated in road postseason play with the resilient victory. One win away from an awaited return to the NBA Finals, Tatum tapped into must-win mode early, erupting for 36 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists, one steal, two blocks, five 3-pointers, and zero turnovers in his 44-minute masterpiece on May 25, 2024.

Championship Year