Jayson Tatum passes Larry Bird...

On Monday, Jayson Tatum's career season saw him pass an NBA and Boston Celtics great. Tatum surpassed Larry Bird for the most 50-point games in Celtics history with a 51-point performance against the Charlotte Hornets. This was his sixth 50-point game of his career. Bird achieved the mark four times, including a career-high 60 points against the Atlanta Hawks in 1985. Tatum hit the milestone with a 3-pointer from the wing in the waning seconds of Boston's 130-118 victory.

His eighth 3-pointer of the day came on his 12th attempt (58.3%). He ended with 51 points, nine rebounds, and five assists on an excellent 15-of-23 shooting performance. Following the game, he paid tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the holiday commemorating the civil rights leader. "We are all privileged and pleased to have the opportunity to play and represent Dr. King and his legacy, as well as his family," Tatum added. "In many respects, I wouldn't be able to accomplish what I do and live out my dream without him." He also slipped in a brief boast about his several 50-point efforts. "I haven't scored 50 in a long time," Tatum continued. "I really needed that one."

What does Tatum's 51-point game mean?

Tatum has emerged from a perennial All-Star into a leading MVP candidate this season, his sixth in the NBA. Fresh off of leading the Celtics to last season's NBA Finals, he's averaged a career-high 30.6 points and 8.2 rebounds while adding 4.3 assists and one steal per game. His Celtics have the best record in the NBA at 33-12 and led the second-place Brooklyn Nets by 4.5 games after Monday's win.

The 50-point effort was Tatum's first of the season after he scored 54 and 51 in games last season and 50 and a career-high 60 during the 2020-21 campaign.

The modern game is vastly different from NBA basketball of the 1980s. And Tatum's on the leading edge of the game's advances as one of the most prolific scorers and players in the league.