Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown
Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown continues to gain steam in MVP race.
As we approach the home stretch of the regular season, MVP has become a hot topic of conversation in the NBA. Given how the team has shattered any and all expectations, one key member of the Boston Celtics finds himself at the forefront of such debates.
Despite not having the services of superstar forward Jayson Tatum, the Celtics sit in second place in the East with a little less than 30 games to go. There are many driving forces to their success, with Jaylen Brown being arguably the biggest catalyst.
Thrust into being the No. 1 option on a nightly basis, Brown has put together arguably the best year of his career. The five-time All-Star is currently averaging 29.2 PPG, 7.0 RPG, and 4.9 APG. Seeing that he’s been able to keep Boston in a prominent spot in the East, many have started making a case for Brown.
In recent weeks, countless talking heads around the league have given Brown his flowers when it comes to the MVP race. The latest to do so is longtime TV analyst Skip Bayless. He admits there is still a good chunk of the season left, but as things currently stand, he believes Brown is the clear choice to take home the award this season.
Skip Bayless
Right now, with a long way to go, Jalen Brown is the NBA MVP.
Jaylen Brown Weighs in on Recent MVP Praise Across The League
Given that this is the first time he’s been in such conversations, getting MVP buzz is a big deal for Brown. However, despite many feeling he is a frontrunner in these final weeks, he has managed to keep himself in the right frame of mind.
After the Celtics’ February 22nd matchup against the LA Lakers, Brown was asked his thoughts on so many people clamoring for him to win MVP. While he is grateful for all the praise he’s received, his mindset hasn’t changed from when the season began back in October.
“Just come out and play basketball at the end of the day,” Brown told reporters. “It’s a long season. We still got 27, 28 games left, however many games. Just come with the same mentality as I have from day one. Don’t let the praise or the warmth or the criticism make or break you. Just come out and be Jaylen Brown, who I am.”
Jaylen Brown Comes up Big in Celtics’ Victory Over LA Lakers
On February 22nd, the NBA’s most historic rivalry added another chapter as the Celtics and Lakers squared off on national television. Boston managed to walk out with a dominant 111-89 victory in LA, with Brown once again leading the charge in a big way.
Similar to what he’s done all season, Brown filled up the box score against LeBron James and company. In 36 minutes of action, he tallied 32 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, and three steals. This performance, along with a big night from Payton Pritchard, was a driving force in the Celtics coming away with a big win on the road.
StatMuse
Jaylen Brown vs Lakers:
32 PTS 8 REB 7 AST 3 STL
Top four in 30-point games this season.
This game marked the 28th time this season Brown has broken the 30-point threshold. That is good for fourth in the NBA, trailing only Donovan Mitchell (29), Luka Doncic (30), and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (34).