Jayson Tatum Named Finalist For Rookie Of The Year Award

By Ty Anderson, 985TheSportsHub.com

Head coach Brad Stevens will not be the only Celtic up for an award this summer, as the league announced that forward Jayson Tatum is among their three finalists for the NBA's Rookie of the Year Award.

The No. 3 overall pick in the 2017 Draft, Tatum played a starting role in all 80 of his regular-season appearances for the Celtics, and averaged 13.9 points and five rebounds. He also set the C's record for three-pointers by a rookie, with 105 makes from behind the arc, beating J.R. Bremer's franchise best mark of 101 threes dropped in 2003.

But the 20-year-old has been especially impressive this postseason, with at least 20 points in eight of his 14 playoff contests this spring, and with a team-leading 18.1 points per game. That consistent production, which has helped give the Celtics a 2-0 series lead over the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals, goes hand in hand with Tatum's 46.1 field goal percentage

“No moment is too big,” Stevens, who has openly trusted Tatum as his No. 1 scoring option, said of Tatum earlier this postseason. “He’s got guts. He’s a competitive guy. Sometimes I think we misconstrue some of these slight guys when they come out of college for not being tough but he’s tough and very competitive. Just call the play and get out of his way.”

Utah's Donovan Mitchell and the Sixers' Ben Simmons (a fake rookie) are the other finalists.

No Celtic has captured the Rookie of the Year Award since Larry Bird in 1979-80.

Ty Anderson is a digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Ty? Follow him on Twitter @_TyAnderson.