Who won NBA Finals MVP? Debate centers around Boston Celtics ...
'All the sacrifice was worth it': Jayson Tatum on winning first NBA Championship
Celtics forward Jayson Tatum reacts to winning his first NBA Title.
Sports Seriously
There is no debate about who won the 2024 NBA Finals, as the Boston Celtics dominated the Dallas Mavericks on their way to a dominant series win in five games.
But there is a debate about who should have been the NBA Finals MVP.
Jaylen Brown took home the award for the Celtics after receiving seven of the 11 votes from the media panel that voted for the award, while Jayson Tatum received the other four votes.
Both were deserving, as Brown averaged 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game and Tatum averaged 22.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game.
Did the panel get it right? Many were not quite so sure, questioning Brown's selection over Tatum on social media.
Who won the NBA championship? How Boston Celtics beat Dallas Mavericks in 2024 NBA Finals
NBA championship odds 2024-25: Celtics, Nuggets favorites to win NBA title next season
How social media reacted to Jaylen Brown over Jayson Tatum in NBA Finals MVP voting:
More NBA: Suns middle of the pack in ESPN's way-too-early power rankings for 2024-25 season
Worst NBA Finals ever? Fans sound off after Celtics dump Mavericks for 18th championship
How Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown reacted to the NBA Finals MVP vote:
Tatum was seen as the anchor of this Celtics team for so long, but now Brown, who signed a massive 5-year extension worth more than $300 million in July of 2023, seems to be right with Tatum as Boston's leader.
There doesn't seem to be a controversy, however, over the voting from Brown and Tatum, who praised each other in their postgame comments about the NBA MVP award.
Brown praised Tatum for his "selflessness" after the game, while Tatum said he was "extremely happy" for Brown and that "I need him through this journey and he needs me."
Do you think the media panel got the NBA MVP right?
More: LeBron James, Bronny James speculation continues for Phoenix Suns ahead of 2024 NBA Draft
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today.