Jayson Tatum

Articulate in explaining just how much of a burden winning a first-ever championship lifted from his shoulders, Jayson Tatum found that against the Orlando Magic’s top-ranked defense, such freedoms allowed him to move at a pace faster than anyone else. Challenged by both a quickly-draining first half shot clock and the awaiting arms of a midcourt double team, Tatum turns Franz Wagner and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope into traffic cones with a decisive keep-ahead dribble. Equally magical — for lack of a better word — in what follows, Tatum mixes a fake-pass, Euro-step maneuver, eliminating Paolo Banchero before flushing a two-handed jam over Wendell Carter Jr.’s contest. Generating an offensive highlight that fools four different defenders is rare, but seldom-seen talents of Tatum’s caliber, such displays were commonplace in April 29, 2025’s closeout victory. From wrist injuries to sound defensive strategies, Tatum knew no formidable match, as he constructed a remarkably-efficient 35-point, eight-rebound, 10-assist, one-steal masterpiece, becoming just the second-ever Celtic to record three-consecutive 35-point postseason games.