The 2023 NBA All-Star Game featured the best players in the league showing off their insane talent. However, Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum was head and shoulders above the rest on Sunday night, breaking numerous All-Star Game records with an absolutely unreal performance.
Tatum finished the game with 55 points along with ten rebounds and six assists. His 55-point performance was enough to break the NBA All-Star Game record for most points in an All-Star Game.
Jayson Tatum sets the NBA All-Star Game record with 53 points!
(He's gotten up to 55 now) 🏀⭐️🔥🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/yZut5NXFS4
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) February 20, 2023
Nearly half of those points came in the third quarter, scoring 27 points in the quarter which is also an All-Star Game record.
Jayson Tatum is going off!
He set the NBA All-Star Game record for points in a quarter, scoring 27 in the third. 🏀🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/nOsLipBo4c
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) February 20, 2023
Tatum also featured in one of the most entertaining moments of the game when he and Celtics teammate Jaylen Brown went back and forth trying to score on each other.
Jaylen Brown vs. Jayson Tatum ☘️
What a moment. pic.twitter.com/auPSfMXQcw
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 20, 2023
To nobody’s surprise, Tatum was named the winner of the 2023 Kobe Bryant Award, otherwise known as the All-Star Game MVP after he helped Team Giannis take home the victory over Team LeBron.
Jayson Tatum receives the Kobe Bryant Trophy for the #KiaAllStarMVP! 🏆#NBAAllStar | @Kia pic.twitter.com/eP4px3UbD6
— NBA (@NBA) February 20, 2023
Many around the NBA world took to social media to marvel at Tatum’s unbelievable performance on Sunday night.
Congrats to Jayson Tatum for winning All-Star MVP. with a record 55 points. Great young man. This league could not ask for a better representative.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) February 20, 2023
Jayson Tatum's 55 points in a defenseless All-Star game isn't even in the top five individual scoring games this season. It's been that kind of year.
— J.A. Adande (@jadande) February 20, 2023
Jayson Tatum wins the MVP trophy named after his hero, Kobe Bryant… that has to be a really cool moment
— John Karalis 🇬🇷🇺🇦 (@John_Karalis) February 20, 2023
In all seriousness, it is an All Star Game; HOWEVER, it’s another night on one of basketball’s biggest stage that the world gets to see how talented Jayson Tatum is. pic.twitter.com/rGBZf0i7g1
— Harrison Vapnek (@harrisonvapnek) February 20, 2023
Jayson Tatum's February…
* Youngest player in NBA history to make 1,000 3's.
* Leading the NBA in scoring (1,685 points) on the NBA's best team.
* 55 points – A new NBA All-Star Game scoring record.
— Sean Grande (@SeanGrandePBP) February 20, 2023
The Celtics obviously have an extremely impressive history as an organization, and their resume in the All-Star Game is no exception.
With this All-Star Game MVP for Tatum, he becomes the eighth Celtic to earn the award and the first to do so since Larry Bird back in 1982.
Jayson Tatum is the 1st Celtics player to win All-Star Game MVP since Larry Bird in 1982.
Full List of Celtics:
Jayson Tatum (2023)
Larry Bird (1982)
Nate Archibald (1981)
Dave Cowens (1973)
Bill Russell (1963)
Bob Cousy (1954 & 1957)
Bill Sharman (1955)
Ed Macauley (1951) pic.twitter.com/ua97iC1Pct— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 20, 2023
While Tatum was obviously the star of the show, his Boston teammate Brown also had an amazing performance on the opposing team, scoring 35 points in the game.
The Celtics teammates also broke another NBA record, with their 90 combined points being the most for a pair of teammates in an All-Star Game.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for 90 points. Most ever by a pair of teammates in an All-Star Game.
— Chris Palmer (@ChrisPalmerNBA) February 20, 2023
If this All-Star Game taught us anything, it is that the Celtics have perhaps the best tandem of any NBA franchise and a real superstar in Jayson Tatum.
About Reice Shipley
Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.