Philadelphia 76ers guard Jaylen Brown poses for a photo during his introductory press conference at the Francis J. Myers Recreation Center.
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
When NBA draft classes get re-evaluated years down the road, hindsight usually changes everything. Media personality Kevin O'Connor recently offered a bold take on the 2016 NBA Draft, crowning Philadelphia 76ers star Jaylen Brown as the clear-cut top player from that class.
During a recent discussion, O'Connor highlighted Brown's rapid ascension into an elite, championship-winning star as the primary reason why he stands above all his 2016 draft peers.
“Jaylen Brown, Eastern Conference Finals MVP, Finals MVP of 2024, averaged 30 points per game against the Pacers in the conference finals, wins finals MVP against Dallas, last year, in the MVP conversation, peak of his career individually, 29 points per game, 7 boards, 5 assists, 50+ wins without Jayson Tatum….. Jaylen Brown is without a doubt No. 1 in the 2016 draft class,” O'Connor explained.
"Jaylen Brown is without a doubt No. 1 in the 2016 draft class." 1️⃣@KevinOConnor explains why Brown stands above the rest of his draft class 🏀
(via The Kevin O'Connor Show) pic.twitter.com/UX3ieUzQbe
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) September 8, 2026
Drafted third overall by Boston out of the University of California, Brown has systematically built one of the most complete resumes of any modern wing player. His crowning moment came during the 2024 postseason run, where he elevated his play when the spotlight burned brightest.
Against the Indiana Pacers in the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals, Brown dominated across the four-game sweep, averaging 29.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists while shooting 51.7% from the field to claim Eastern Conference Finals MVP honors. He followed that performance up by leading Boston past the Dallas Mavericks in the 2024 NBA Finals, averaging 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.6 steals per game to earn Finals MVP honors.
While Ben Simmons went first overall to the Philadelphia 76ers and Brandon Ingram was taken second by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2016, Brown’s growth into an All-NBA centerpiece, elite perimeter defender, and championship hero makes O'Connor's assessment hard to argue against.