![](https://library.sportingnews.com/styles/facebook_1200x630/s3/2023-02/nba-plain--e2e343fe-e521-4a07-bad9-f993547f63f6.jpeg?itok=pyQVWoY_)
The 72nd NBA All-Star Game began as a battle between Team Giannis and Team LeBron, but Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum stole the show.
It started before the game even tipped off when Tatum announced the debut of his new signature shoe, the Tatum Jordan 1s.
Jayson Tatum breaks the #NBAAllStar Game scoring record in the “Zoo” Jordan Tatum 1: pic.twitter.com/YmQp6DjZ3v
— Nick DePaula (@NickDePaula) February 20, 2023
Team captain Giannis Antetokounmpo elected to take Tatum with his first pick in the first pregame All-Star Draft. That set the stage for the star to shine bright. The selection proved to be the GM move of the night as Tatum caught fire to lead Team Giannis over Team LeBron 184-175, snapping LeBron James’ five-year win streak as an All-Star captain.
MORE: Live updates from the 2023 NBA All-Star Game
Tatum got out to a strong start, throwing lobs to himself off the glass and knocking down 3s on his way to 17 first-half points. But Boston’s superstar really got going after halftime.
First, he erupted for an All-Star record 27 points in the third quarter.
Jayson Tatum went OFF for an NBA All-Star Game record 27 PTS in Q3 👀
52 PTS, 9 REB, 5 AST, 10 3PM#NBAAllStar | Live on TNT pic.twitter.com/iIVsghzRk0
— NBA (@NBA) February 20, 2023
His Celtics teammate Jaylen Brown caught some of that as a game of 1-on-1 broke out between the two.
JB vs. JT 🍿 pic.twitter.com/G2sFAlKzmR
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 20, 2023
The single-quarter scoring record wasn’t the only milestone Tatun would reach Sunday. He ended up rewriting the All-Star Game record book with 55 points, surpassing Anthony Davis’ single-game mark of 52 in 2017.
The 24-year-old took home the Kobe Bryant All-Star Game MVP, the latest addition to his impressive career resume.
An #NBAAllStar record 55-PT performance 🔥@jaytatum0 wins the Kobe Bryant All-Star Game MVP! pic.twitter.com/2RVT0lKqK7
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 20, 2023
After the game, Tatum did not downplay what it meant to him to earn the award named after his idol.
“It’s extremely special for me. My first All-Star Game was in Chicago, in 2020, when they named the MVP after (Bryant),” Tatum told the media.
“I remember telling myself that day that I have to get one of those before I get done. And you know, to be able to wear my signature shoe today, and break the (All-Star Game scoring) record and take home this award named after somebody I idolized . . . it’s a hell of a day,” he added.
“It’s extremely special for me.”
Jayson Tatum on winning the Kobe Bryant Trophy for the #KiaAllStarMVP 🏆 pic.twitter.com/OYq1NNz6y0
— NBA (@NBA) February 20, 2023