In how many games did Jayson Tatum have scored 50 points or more?
On Monday, Jayson Tatum passed a Boston Celtics and NBA great thanks to his stellar season. Jayson Tatum surpassed Larry Bird to record the most 50-point games in Celtics history with his 51-point performance against the Charlotte Hornets. It was his fifth game with 50 points or more in his career. Bird hit the milestone four times, scoring a career-high 60 points against the Atlanta Hawks in 1985.
Tatum surpassed the milestone with a wing 3-pointer in the closing moments of Boston’s 130-118 victory. He made his eighth 3-pointer of the day on 12 tries (58.3%). He ended the game with 51 points, nine rebounds, five assists, and a 15 of 23 with an effective field goal percentage.
On the day honoring the civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., he paid tribute to him after the game. Jason stated, “We are all blessed and honored to be able to play and represent Dr. King and his legacy, his family.”
In his sixth season in the NBA, Tatum has transformed from a consistent All-Star into a front-runner for the MVP award. He just led the Celtics to the NBA Finals, and this season he was averaging a career-high 30.6 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and one steal per game.
As long as he plays for the Celtics, Tatum, 24, is on track to surpass Bird’s record of 50-point games, but he is doing so at a time when 50-point games are considerably more frequent than they were when Bird was playing.
Since 2020, 49 players have scored 50 or more points as the game has shifted toward efficiency and embraced the 3-point shooting. The NBA basketball of the 1980s is very different from the game now. As one of the league’s top scorers and players, Tatum is at the forefront of the game’s developments.