By Eric Jay SantosShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberWith Jayson Tatum sidelined for the majority of this season, there were ongoing doubts that a limited Boston Celtics lineup could remain championship contenders. However, the Celtics currently hold the second spot in the Eastern Conference standings.
Boston’s rise to the top of the rankings can be attributed to the leadership of Jaylen Brown. This season, Brown is averaging a career-high 28.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 5.1 assists over 58 games.
Being named an Eastern Conference All-Star starter earlier this year and accounting for the Celtics’ team success, Brown has made a serious case for being named the league’s Most Valuable Player.
In a recent episode of Cousins with Vince Carter & Tracy McGrady, Brown commented on the possibility of winning the MVP award.
"I feel like I fit the criteria for it. Especially what people were saying about me before the season, that I couldn't do it or I wasn't capable of being this or being that. I've been able to kind of shoulder that and then also help lead my team to where we're at now, but people constantly just move the bar… I probably never will (fit the criteria to be MVP), no matter what I do.”
...The MVP Race
Brown is positioned at No. 6 on the latest edition of the NBA MVP Ladder, behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, Cade Cunningham, and Victor Wembanyama. He is the second-highest ranked non-international player on the list.
Aside from a rare ejection during the first half of Tuesday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs, Brown has continued to be a notable scorer throughout Tatum’s absence. He scored 24 points against the Dallas Mavericks and 23 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
While the field is stacked with talent, the NBA’s MVP may ultimately be determined by the 65-game minimum for postseason award eligibility. The majority of the contending players in front of Brown are all within six games of facing ineligibility, with Jokic only being able to miss one more game.
Overall, Brown will need to continue building momentum to strengthen his MVP campaign, though the Celtics are in an optimal position to secure a top seed in the Eastern Conference.
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