As the Los Angeles Clippers take on the Boston Celtics, there is something Ty Lue will be worried about. Playing on the Celtics will be someone who he has known for a long, long time. Interestingly, Lue had already started this family feud when he defeated the C’s in the 2018 Eastern Conference finals! The Clippers boss will need a game plan to contain Boston’s very own Jayson Tatum, whose scoring and versatility have quickly made him a key player for the reigning champs.

Ty Lue has taken great pride in watching Jayson Tatum develop into a rising NBA star, especially because of their family ties. Being cousins with Tatum’s father, Justin, Lue has a unique connection to the Celtics forward. For him, seeing “Little Jay” transform from a child into an NBA standout has been an enjoyable journey to witness, even from a distance.

“Just seeing Little Jay when he was 6 or 7 years old and now to who he is today is crazy,” said Lue in 2018, and now they meet again on the court. During Tatum’s childhood, his family often drove two hours from St. Louis to visit the head coach in Mexico, Missouri.

They made it a point to attend his cookouts and join in on his yearly 4th of July gatherings. Those trips were a special tradition, filled with moments that strengthened their bond long before Jayson Tatum’s path led him to NBA stardom.

“It’s tough because you want to see him do well, but not against you,” Lue had said. Well, newsflash, he is one of the best players in the league right now. And he has all the abilities required to break through the Clippers’ defense. Last year, he guided the Celtics to both the league’s top record and a championship victory. Jayson Tatum consistently demonstrates unmatched versatility on the court and he has approached Boston’s intense spotlight with confidence and poised leadership.

This season he’s aiming to finally become the MVP.

Can this be the year Jayson Tatum clinches the MVP award?

Jayson Tatum is building his strongest MVP case yet, fueled by a massive leap in his 3-point shooting. Draining 39.4% from deep on a career-high 11 attempts per game, he’s turned what used to be a shaky area into a deadly weapon. This growth has erased the doubts from last season’s playoffs and the Olympics, where his jumper let him down, especially on pull-up threes.

Last year, his struggles became evident as he made only 27.4% of his pull-up threes in the playoffs and hit just 17 of 49 crucial shots. The Olympics didn’t help his case either, as he went 0-for-16 on jumpers… But this season? Jayson Tatum’s shooting looks like a complete turnaround, and that spells trouble for anyone trying to stop Boston.

Beyond his jumper, Jayson Tatum’s all-around game is a force. He ranks third in scoring while grabbing boards, dishing assists, and locking in defensively. Add in his Olympic benching as fuel, and JT’s playing with the energy of someone determined to make this his BIG-defining season.