Unpacking media bias, Gilbert Arenas drops bombshell on Jayson Tatum’s shocking MVP finish – EssentiallySports

Despite leading the Boston Celtics to a coveted 18th NBA title, Jayson Tatum seems to be struggling for recognition in a way stars like Nikola Jokic never had to. why According to former NBA guard Gilbert Arenas, it’s simple: the media isn’t ready for Tatum to be the face of the NBA. And in a new, fiery twist, Arenas argued that Tatum’s snub of the Finals MVP was just another chapter in a larger story of media bias.

In the Halloween episode of Gil’s Arenathe discussion took an intriguing turn when Tatum’s spot on the team came up. The co-hosts suggested Jaylen Brown as the Celtics favorite, alluding to his Finals MVP status last season. But Arenas quickly interjected and asked: “When did Brown become the number one option? When did you hear it?’ For Arenas, Tatum’s place as the team’s leader is clear. In his view, media narratives have distorted reality, ignoring Tatum’s influence to give Brown the spotlight instead.

So how did Tatum get overlooked? Arenas points to early season predictions, claiming that some reporters have said outright, “Jayson Tatum can’t win the championship because he’s the number one option.” Arenas explained that this narrative influenced the MVP voting, adding, “These are the same people who voted (for the MVP).” It’s as if the media wanted to prevent Tatum from having the honor of saving face by creating a narrative and then voting against him to make him stay. But Arenas didn’t stop there.

He believes the media attention on Brown has been less about celebrating him and more about overshadowing Tatum. “When did Brown become the number one option publicly? 82 games? No… When they found out that Jason was probably going to win the championship,” Arenas argues on the podcast.

For those not yet ready, the stats from the finals tell a story of their own. Brown averaged 22.3 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 4.3 APG and 1.2 SPG, while Tatum was close behind with 21.8 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 7.1 APG and 1.1 SPG. Both were crucial in the Celtics’ push, but the media spotlight seemed to find only one player.

Gilbert Arenas has exposed the media bias against Tatum before

Back in September, Gilbert Arenas set his sights on the NBA Gil’s Arenaaccusing the league of suspending Celtics star Jayson Tatum. According to Arenas, the NBA simply doesn’t want Tatum as the face of the league, no matter how much he’s accomplished on the court. It wasn’t just Tatum’s play; for Arenas, the lack of recognition speaks volumes for a deeper bias.

“If the NBA wanted to make him a face, they would just give him awardsArenas said. He pointed out how instead of praise, Tatum has faced constant criticism from analysts and voters alike. “When they were talking on TV, they were attacking Jayson Tatum. That couldn’t be the face of the NBA.” Arenas disputed that, noting that the league’s All-Star picks get different, more lenient treatment.

For Arenas, it’s the league “face” it’s not about pure skill. It’s about the narrative the media decides to push. He illustrated this with Joel Embiid, recalling how the media suddenly shifted its focus to a campaign about Embiid being the best in the league. Arenas saw the change as a crafted storyline rather than based on performance alone.

“When Jokic was winning this award and they wanted Embiid to win it, how did that sound? It sounded very different, didn’t it?” Arenas added, describing how Embiid’s “campaign” seemed to appear out of nowhere. For Arenas, Tatum’s lack of the same push says it all: The NBA never wanted him as its lead man.