Top 5 Jayson Tatum playoff records ahead of 2024 NBA Finals

Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics are headed to their second NBA Finals appearance in three years. After losing 4-2 to the Golden State Warriors in 2022, the Cs will look to get over the hump and win banner No. 18. Boston, which looked overwhelmed two years ago, seems ready and excited to lift its first Larry O’Brien Trophy since 2008.

Tatum and Co. will have the edge in playoff experience when they take on the Dallas Mavericks starting on June 6, 2024. Boston has not missed the playoffs in a decade, and the franchise has reached the Eastern Conference Finals in five of Tatum’s seven seasons. “JT” has set several records since he started campaigning in the playoffs as a rookie in 2018.

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Playoff records held by Jayson Tatum

No. 5 - 100 turnovers in a single postseason run

Jayson Tatum holds the record for most turnovers in a single postseason run.

During the Celtics' 2021-22 run that ended with a loss to the Warriors, the star forward piled up 100 turnovers. He averaged 3.8 TOV in the NBA Finals and committed six in Game 4 when Boston lost the chance to go up 3-1.

Before Tatum, LeBron James held the record when he committed 94 errors during the 2017-18 season. Dwyane Wade is third on the list with 90 during the Miami Heat’s championship run during the 2005-06 season.

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No. 4 - Tied with LeBron James for the most 30-point, 10-rebound and five-assist games in a playoff run

Last year, Jayson Tatum had seven games with at least 30 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, tying LeBron James’ record set in 2018.

Tatum had a chance of sitting on top of the leaderboard in that category but injured his ankle in Game 7 against the Miami Heat. He limped to a 14-point, 11-rebound and four-assist night as the Celtics went down 103-84 in front of their stunned home crowd.

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No. 3 - Tied with multiple players to lead a team in points, rebounds and assists and reach the NBA Finals

Jayson Tatum is averaging 26.0 points, 10.4 rebounds and 5.9 assists in 14 Celtics playoff games.

He leads the team in each of those categories, allowing him to join a select few to accomplish such a feat. Before him, only Nikola Jokic (2023), Tim Duncan (2003), Jason Kidd (2002) and LeBron James 2012-15) have had that distinction.

Incredibly enough, Luka Doncic, Tatum’s main opponent in the 2024 NBA Finals, also earned his way into the list.

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No. 2 - Most points in a Game 7

In Game 7 of the second-round series between the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers in 2023. Jayson Tatum lit up the hapless Sixers with 51 points on 17-for-28 shooting, including 6-for-10 3-pointers and 11-for-14 free throws.

Before that, Steph Curry had held the record when he had 50 versus the Sacramento Kings that same year.

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No. 1 - Most points through the first seven seasons in the playoffs

In Game 2 against the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals this year, Jayson Tatum dropped a modest 23 points.

Coming into the game, he needed just six points to own perhaps the most impressive playoff record of his career. Tatum surpassed Celtics legend Larry Bird for most points in the first seven postseasons in the NBA.

“Larry Legend” had 2,515, while Tatum had 2,600 after the Celtics eliminated the Pacers in Game 4 on Monday. Third on the list is a certain Michael Jordan who compiled 2,425 in his first seven playoff years with the Chicago Bulls.