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How Jayson Tatum really felt about Jaylen Brown winning 2024 NBA Finals MVP over him

Originally posted on NBA Analysis Network
By Aikansh Chaudhary | Last updated Dec 4, 2025 2:00 PM ET

The Boston Celtics became 18-time NBA champions in 2024, led by the dynamic duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

The Boston Celtics also put an end to their 16-year NBA Championship drought after lifting the Larry O’Brien trophy in 2024.

While it was a team effort, the Celtics were led by a two-headed snake featuring Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

Are the Boston Celtics still a dangerous threat in the East without Jayson Tatum?

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Although Tatum is arguably the better player between the two, it was Brown who took home the NBA Finals MVP trophy in 2024.

Jayson Tatum makes a Larry Bird statement about Jaylen Brown winning the NBA Finals MVP

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Being a superstar, not winning the NBA Finals MVP, can have massive consequences on a player’s legacy in the eyes of fans.

After all, even Stephen Curry was a victim of this until he won the 2022 NBA Finals MVP. Coming back to the C’s 2024 run, Tatum has obviously suffered for not winning the Finals MVP.

But what are his honest thoughts on Brown getting the honor? Well, JT revealed during an appearance on the Morris Code podcast.

“Even with him winning Finals MVP, I was just so excited in that moment that we won a championship. I can be 100% honest, there was no animosity, and I wasn’t upset.

“To be honest, I was just like, ‘Oh s___, it’s not my time.’ I know I’m going to get a finals MVP, that just means I gotta win another championship,” Tatum said with confidence.

He added: “Larry Bird didn’t win Finals MVP every single time, Isiah Thomas didn’t win Finals MVP every single time. I know I’m going to get one, it’s just a matter of time.”

Tatum is correct, as Isiah Thomas has one NBA Finals MVP (2x NBA champ) and Larry Bird has two NBA Finals MVPs (3x NBA champ) to his name.

Jayson Tatum vs. Jaylen Brown in the 2024 NBA Finals

While it’s obvious that Tatum and Brown were both essential to the C’s championship run, the former was obviously better than the latter throughout the playoffs.

Even during the 2024 NBA Finals, Tatum averaged more points, rebounds, and assists per game than Brown.