Jaylen Brown has candid answer when asked if he deserves MVP

Jaylen Brown’s numbers communicate for themselves.

Tasked with retaining the Celtics afloat this season following each Jayson Tatum’s prolonged rehab from a ruptured Achilles and a number of other offseason departures, Brown made the many of the alternative in entrance of him.

Not solely is Brown averaging a career-best 28.8 factors, 7.0 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per recreation, he has additionally helped the Celtics retain their standing as a professional contender in 2025-26. Boston is sitting second within the Jap Convention with a 54-26 report and the No. 2 seed within the Jap Convention.

Given each his particular person stats, the Celtics’ team-wide standing, and the promise of a deep playoff run now with Tatum again within the fold, Brown has a professional case as NBA MVP through the 2025-26 marketing campaign.

However, throughout a video function on ESPN, Brown was candid when NBA reporter Ramona Shelburne requested him if he deserves MVP honors this season.

“Analytically, most likely not — actually,” Brown said. “However I put my blood, sweat and tears into this season — on the court docket from a efficiency standpoint, what my staff wants me to do on each ends of the court docket, after which additionally from a management standpoint.

“Galvanizing guys, getting all people on the identical web page within the midst of uncertainty to assist hold us in rivalry on the high of the league. The analytics don’t quantify who I’m and [what] my spirit is.”​

According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Brown is just not one of many favorites to take dwelling the annual honor, with the Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (-7000), Victor Wembanyama (+3330), and Nikola Jokic (+7500) main the cost. ​

Nonetheless, Brown pressured that he’s had few regrets over how this season has gone — particularly with the postseason proper across the nook.

“I really feel like I ready for this yr in an effective way, with simply getting my physique prepared coming off of knee surgical procedure,” Brown advised Shelburne. “One among my poisonous traits is that I’ve a tough time letting individuals see me weak, like I sort of remoted myself from my household and my buddies.

“[I] went to a different degree mentally with the intention to put together myself for what was in entrance of me. It was a rebuild, proper? Possibly not from a mindset and organizational standpoint, however I additionally checked out it as a possibility to indicate the world who I’m and what I may probably do.”

Even when the percentages don’t favor Brown in relation to the MVP race, he has had a number of distinguished names in his nook — together with Paul Pierce and “Pardon The Interruption” hosts Michael Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser.

​“If I had a vote, and I don’t — if I needed to vote right now, I’d vote for Jaylen. … As a result of Jaylen Brown has been so resolute and reliable within the absence of Jayson Tatum and Boston is in second place within the East,” Kornheiser stated. “San Antonio is in second place within the West.

​“However what Wembanyama has been doing these days is form of superb. …  I could possibly be persuaded, as a result of I feel the numbers are there [for Wembanyama]. I’m nonetheless within the Jaylen Brown camp.”

 

Conor Ryan is a employees author masking the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Crimson Sox for Boston.com, a task he has held since 2023.