“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure” — that saying couldn’t be more fitting for the situation in the NBA right now. With Anthony Edwards passing on the “face of the league” title, the big question echoing through NBA circles is, who’s next? That’s when Jayson Tatum’s name came up. And guess his stats for this season? An average of 26.8 points per game! But just when it seemed like the spotlight was on him, a former NFL star swooped in and made a jaw-dropping statement on Tatum’s credibility that’s sure to raise some eyebrows.
The discussion popped up on the Nightcap podcast when Shannon Sharpe was talking about the 2025 MVP candidates and turned towards his co-host, Chad Johnson, asking, “Are we sure Jayson Tatum is the best player on that team?” To answer that, the former wide receiver recalled the 2024 Playoffs, where all the hype was swirling around Tatum. But when he tuned into the game, what he saw was a whole different story. “I’m watching the game, and all I’m hearing is Jayson Tatum’s name, but when I watch the game, all I’m seeing is Jaylen Brown.” That led Ocho to ask Sharpe if the Celtics forward was actually in a position to be given the “face of the league” tag.
“He can’t be the face of the league when you questioning whether or not he’s the best player on his own team,” Sharpe stated. He believed, “That’s got to be definitive; that’s got to be undeniable. There are no ifs and buts about it. If there’s anything he can’t.” The narrative around Brown being a more complete and impactful player in Boston had been growing since last season, and the 56-year-old highlighted it again.
Following similar lines, he added, “How are you going to be supposedly the face of the league, and you’re not the best player on your own team? Because what we saw is one guy win Finals MVP. We saw the same guy win Eastern Conference MVP. We see that guy a lot of times take the toughest matchups.” This reflects Sharpe’s stance on Tatum’s MVP status. As for him, Brown is taking the lead at least in Boston.
If you think the debate is just between the ‘Jays’, you are mistaken. In a free world, you will never run short of opinions. One such pick for the league was Caitlin Clark. Scratching your head, why she would be the face of the NBA? Well, it is basketball, after all. But who proposed it? Rashad McCants, a former player, proposed the idea, “THE FACE OF THE NBA IS CAITLIN CLARK!!! Yea I said it!!!! She has handled criticism better than the people you consider THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME!!!!! @CaitlinClark22, your the GOAT!!!”
Now back to the Celtics locker room. While the ESPN analyst isn’t a fan of Jayson Tatum’s MVP crowning, nor his claim to be the “face of the league,” an ex-NBA star is firmly rooting for him.
Former NBA star backs Jayson Tatum for “face of the league” title
As one of the most talked-about topics in the league, Gilbert Arenas’ podcast also covered it. When asked if he believed Jayson Tatum is the face of the league, the former Washington guard didn’t hesitate, responding with confidence, “Facts.”
He further explained that despite the frequent criticism Tatum faces, his resume highlights his accomplishments. “1000 percent. When you talk about him negative compared to his actual resume, this is not the 80s and the 90s where we made our superstar look good. For the last 20-something years, it’s been a negative thing on the face of the NBA. Whoever got bashed the most, didn’t even think about it. He is the face because we pretend his resume is not his resume,” he added on the Gil’s Arena.
Jayson Tatum hate only means he is the new face of the NBA pic.twitter.com/idRBU7Y9XA
— Underdog (@UnderdogFantasy) February 28, 2025
The 43-year-old believes that people throw shade at him but often overlook his impressive numbers. So far, Tatum is averaging 26.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists, and he’s currently in the top 5 of NBA.com’s MVP race. Whether he finishes at the top, this season remains a question for the future, but the “face of the league” search is still not over.
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