2024 NBA Finals MVP: Which players on the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks to watch out for

The favorite from Boston

Jayson Tatum enters the NBA finals as one of, if not the favorite, to win the Finals MVP by a large margin.

Tatum has been the Celtics' best player throughout their impressive regular season run and strolled through the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Since transitioning to postseason play, Tatum's scoring has remained consistent at around 26 points per game, but he has also increased his rebounding and assist numbers from 8.1 and 4.9 per game to 10.4 and 5.9, respectively.

The favorite from Dallas

In the same way that Jayson Tatum is the favorite from the Boston Celtics to win MVP, Luka Doncic boasts the same title for the Dallas Mavericks.

Doncic has been averaging nearly a triple-double throughout the playoffs to lead Dallas with 28.8 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 8.8 assists per game.

His heroics throughout the postseason have been a continuation of his tremendous regular season, which saw him lead the league in scoring with 33.9 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 9.8 assists.

The Celtics legitimate second contender

Jaylen Brown has been just behind Jayson Tatum in terms of his offensive production and has the potential to be just as, if not more, important during the series than his teammate.

Brown has been averaging 25 points per game - one point less than Tatum- and has already shown he can be a difference-maker during the playoffs this year.

He also was named Eastern Conference Finals MVP and will be looking to keep his momentum rolling during the finals.

The Mavericks legitimate second contender

Kyrie Irving has essentially used the Mavericks playoff run as his personal redemption tour after spending the last several years being ridiculed to endless extents by fans and countless media members.

Irving's skills have been on full display as he has thrived in a role as the ultra-talented Robin to Doncic's Batman.

During the postseason, Irving has averaged 22.8 points and 5.2 assists. He has also shown the ability to still take over a game and be the team's no. 1 option when needed.

Boston Celtics surprise X-factor

Jrue Holiday has been the unsung hero of the Celtics' tremendous season, and his direct impact on the team's success may shine brightest on the NBA's brightest stage.

Holiday may not produce the eyebrow-raising stats that some of the other superstars on the list record on a game-to-game basis, but he truly makes his impact on the defensive end, locking down the opposing team's playmaker while still turning up big in clutch moments on offense.

If Holiday is able to shut down Doncic and Irving or even throw both of the Mavericks' stars off their game, it could be the determining factor in the series.

Dallas Mavericks surprise X-factor

Since being traded to Dallas earlier this season, PJ Washington has quietly become one of the most important role players in the NBA and has been instrumental to the Mavericks playoff run.

More importantly, Washington proved during the Mavericks series against the Oklahoma City Thunder that he can step into a bigger role when needed and take over a game to make a world of difference.