“Everybody’s coming at you!” Stephen A. Smith goes on PASSIONATE rant against Shannon Sharpe to make case for Jayson Tatum MVP run

Jayson Tatum has been leading the Boston Celtics charge for an NBA championship title.

“Everybody’s coming at you!” Stephen A. Smith goes on PASSIONATE rant against Shannon Sharpe to make case for Jayson Tatum MVP run

Stephen A. Smith (Left), Jayson Tatum (Middle) and Shannon Sharpe (Right) (via Open Source/X)

Jayson Tatum has been grabbing attention this season by spearheading the Boston Celtics’ quest for the coveted NBA Championship. Since the Celtics picked him as the third overall selection in the 2017 NBA draft, he has continuously showcased remarkable improvement and resilience.

During Monday morning’s episode of First Take, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith put forth the case for the Boston Celtics star as a viable MVP candidate, while Shannon Sharpe countered. And it appeared to seem like a ranting contest between both analysts.

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Stephen A. Smith passionately declared that Boston Celtics’ forward Jayson Tatum holds the top spot on his MVP ballot, with Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic following closely behind. He proceeded to provide reasoning for his choice and elaborate on Tatum’s qualifications for the MVP candidacy. Stephen A. Smith had the following to say:

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The best player on the best team. You’re the number one option, everybody’s watching you. Everybody’s coming at you every single night. You’re the number-one team by six games. Come on now, I can’t ignore that.
Stephen A. Smith on Jayson Tatum.

This season, Jayson Tatum is averaging 26.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in 54 games played. The Boston Celtics are currently top of the Eastern Conference standings with a 45-12 record. Meanwhile, Stephen A. Smith has also stirred controversy with another equally vocal take, this one regarding LeBron and Bronny James.

Stephen A. Smith blames LeBron James for media scrutiny of Bronny James

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith criticized LeBron James on Tuesday for asking the media to stop speculating about his son Bronny’s NBA future, arguing that James himself is responsible for the media’s interest in Bronny’s career prospects.

Stephen A. Smith and LeBron
Stephen A. Smith (image via Twitter & YouTube)

Smith said on First Take:

This is all his fault—all of it. Let me be very delicate, I’m not joking around, I’m not playing. I’m going to be very serious. ... When we get to Bronny James, that kid has done nothing but work hard and try to get on this game and all this other stuff. Any attention that he’s warranted has been because of his daddy.
Stephen A. Smith on LeBron’s way of bringing Bronny to the limelight.

Smith highlighted the public’s interest in Bronny James’s potential NBA destinations, citing LeBron James’s expressed desire to play alongside his son and even relocate to his team, which has fueled speculation about Bronny’s future in basketball.

Bronny James started his first collegiate season late due to recovering from a summer cardiac arrest. Initially a bench player, he has since started in six games, averaging 5.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 20.2 minutes per game.

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