Jaylen Brown has been playing some of the best basketball of his career to begin the new season. The explosive forward has stepped into a leading role for the Boston Celtics, as the team navigates Jayson Tatum’s absence with an Achilles tendon injury.
In 20 games, Brown is averaging 28.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists. He’s shooting 49% from the field and 34.7% from deep. Furthermore, he’s also emerged as one of the best mid-range scorers in the NBA. At times, Brown has looked somewhat unguardable for Boston.
Despite his impressive showings, The Athletic’s Fred Katz doesn’t believe Brown will emerge in the MVP conversation this season.
“I don’t think anyone’s getting into the MVP conversation other than Jokic, Shai, Giannis and Luka,” Katz said during a recent appearance on CLNS Media’s “The Garden Report” podcast. “…I mean, Nikola Jokic is averaging 30, 13, and 11 on like 70% shooting. Like, it’s not even close to what the rest of the league is doing compared to that. I would not put Jaylen Brown in that class. However, he is a surefire All-Star.”
Breaking into the MVP conversation is nearly impossible. Brown is having a monster year; however, jumping from being an All-Star to an MVP candidate in one season is a huge task. Still, it’s likely Brown pushes for an All-NBA second- or third-team selection, as that would be a fair and realistic goal for him this season.
Story continues below advertisement
With Tatum sidelined, Brown is proving that he’s capable of being the primary offensive option. He’s also showcasing his playmaking improvements and playing some solid defense. These additional reps at leading the team will pay dividends once Tatum is back and there’s additional spacing on the floor.
So, while Brown isn’t likely to be mentioned in MVP talks this season, he’s still making an important statement. The Celtics need him to continue being this version of himself, both this season and when Tatum is back to full strength. Having both All-Star forwards at the top of their game is what will give Boston its best chance of raising another banner in the near future.
Story continues below advertisement
