While it very nearly could have gone the other way, it was fitting that the very first Larry Bird Eastern Conference finals Most Valuable Player award went to Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum and the team the Bob Cousy Eastern Conference Finals trophy after the Celtics defeated the Miami Heat in Game 7 on Sunday night.
The former award, named for the Celtics legend Tatum is stepping into the shoes of as the team’s small forward superstar, could have ended up in the hands of Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler, who presumably would have gotten more than the single vote for the hardware had his late 3-pointer carried the Heat to an improbable victory.
Tatum shared his thoughts on the award postgame, calling it “an honor” to be the premier recipient of the award.
“It still doesn’t even seem real right now,” he added with a smile of seeming disbelief. “I’m just extremely happy and grateful for all of this.”
“Regardless of how long I’ve been in the league, I’m not too far removed from when I was in high school, and when I was dreaming about moments like this. So, I still feel like a kid as sometimes that I’m really, truly living out my dream. I thank God every day just to be in this position, to be able to do that. So to be the first person to win this award (named) after Larry Bird still hasn’t sunk in yet.”
“But, I’m going to take it home and show Deuce tomorrow night and enjoy it,” Tatum finished.
Some might take umbrage with Tatum having worn a Los Angeles Lakers purple and gold armband in honor of his fallen mentor Kobe Bryant, the enemy in an ages-old rivalry popping up in the midst of Celtics history being made.
But for us at least it’s hard to look at what the St. Louis native did with his teammates as anything but worthy of the win — and the trophies awarded named for two of the club’s most famous competitors.
This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!
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