Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens has thrown his support behind Jayson Tatum despite the 2022 All-NBA First Teamer NBA Finals series.

Three-time NBA All-Star Tatum averaged just 21.5 points per game in the NBA Finals, shooting 50% or more from the field just once in their 4-2 loss. against the Golden State Warriors.

Tatum also gave up 23 turnovers in the six NBA Finals games. The 24-year-old had a mixed playoff, finishing with the most turnovers (100) by a single player in NBA playoff history.

However, Tatum was also outstanding in series wins over the Brooklyn Nets, Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat, including a remarkable 46-point run in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals to elimination against the defending champions.

“I just told him to go on vacation,” Stevens told reporters in a videoconference. “Go rest.”

“This guy gave us everything he had. When you look at the minutes, when you look at the games played… I’ve said it many times: he’s a superstar who doesn’t want to sit down. He wants to play, he wants to play all the time.

“I thought in the final he would be the first to say he would like some of those moments back, but I thought there were other factors that contributed to the way he played.”

Tatum, who was named to the All-NBA First Team for the first time in 2022, hit career highs with 26.9 points, 8.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game during the regular season. 2021-21.

The Celtics small forward shot 45.3% from the field throughout the regular season, dropping slightly to 42.6% in the playoffs.

During the playoffs, Tatum averaged 25.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 6.16 assists, but averaged 4.16 turnovers per game.

“We’re all subjective in every moment and react emotionally, but when you start looking at it objectively and more historically, what Jayson and Jaylen [Brown] have done in the playoffs, historically at their age, is a rarefied tune,” Stevens said.

“I think we’re very aware that while Jayson certainly wouldn’t have played his best streak, there’s no way we’re here without him and all of his great play throughout.

“I think back to all the times… Game 6 in Milwaukee was one of the best games I’ve seen played in my time, certainly in person and with the Celtics.

“Without this performance, we would have had this discussion a month and a half ago.”