Jayson Tatum is collecting hardware again, and we’re only two weeks into the NBA season.
The NBA announced Monday that Tatum has been named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for Week 2 of the 2026-27 season, recognizing a four-game stretch in which he averaged 30.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 7.0 assists while leading the Celtics to a perfect 4-0 record.
It marks the 14th Player of the Week honor of Tatum’s career, bringing him within one of Larry Bird’s 15 for second-most in Celtics franchise history.
Paul Pierce holds the record with 17. Pretty good company to keep before your 29th birthday.
Victor Wembanyama took home Western Conference Player of the Week honors after averaging 36.0 points, 10.3 rebounds and 4.3 blocks while leading the San Antonio Spurs to a 3-0 record.
Tatum’s award-winning week included a pair of blowouts, a dramatic overtime buzzer-beater against Brooklyn and plenty of evidence that his slow start from three hasn’t done much to limit his effectiveness.
Boston opened the week by demolishing Chicago 134-99 on October 26. Tatum finished with 23 points, seven rebounds and six assists in just 28 minutes, getting to enjoy most of the fourth quarter from the bench.
The following night against Brooklyn was a very different experience.
Tatum erupted for 40 points, five rebounds and eight assists in Boston’s 125-124 overtime victory over the Nets, capped by his game-winning 17-foot jumper at the buzzer. He also went 18-for-22 from the free-throw line, played 42 minutes and helped the Celtics survive a game that looked like it might end in heartbreak more than once.
He also finished with zero turnovers, an impressive feat considering how much of Boston’s offense ran through him. Between his scoring and playmaking, Tatum managed to carry a heavy offensive workload without giving Brooklyn a single extra possession.
Against Chicago in Friday’s NBA Cup opener, Tatum added 26 points, seven rebounds and seven assists as the Celtics built a lead as large as 32 before eventually winning 125-111.
He capped the week Sunday in Orlando, finishing with 32 points, four rebounds and seven assists in a 108-97 win over the Magic. Boston has now won five straight games since dropping its season opener in Detroit.
Beyond his scoring, Tatum’s playmaking has been a standout part of his early-season performance. He’s consistently found teammates cutting toward the basket and drawn additional defensive attention to create open looks elsewhere. His developing chemistry with Paul George has also given Boston another reliable way to initiate offense, with both players comfortable creating opportunities for each other and everyone else.
Tatum has been effective despite struggling with his outside shot, connecting on just 24.4 percent of his three-point attempts through six games. He’s compensated by attacking the basket and getting to the free-throw line, where he made 46 of 55 attempts during his four award-winning games. That included 22 attempts against Brooklyn and another 17 against Orlando.
The strong start is particularly encouraging given Tatum’s recovery from the Achilles injury he suffered in 2025. After returning to the court last season, he’s quickly reestablished himself as Boston’s offensive centerpiece while continuing to develop his blossoming partnership with George.
In short, Jayson Tatum looks like Jayson Tatum again. And he’s apparently still getting warmed up.
