Joe Mazzulla Explains Jaylen Brown’s Scoring Surge

After years of being the second option for the Boston Celtics, Jaylen Brown is embracing his leading role. With Jayson Tatum sidelined due to an Achilles tendon injury, Brown has assumed the primary scoring role while also becoming the vocal leader for a young and developing team.

Over the last eight games, Brown has taken his scoring skills to another level, averaging at least 30 points in each outing. When speaking to the media following Boston’s 140-122 win over the Indiana Pacers on Friday, head coach Joe Mazzulla detailed what’s gone into Brown’s scoring explosion.

“He picks and chooses his spots really well,” Mazzulla said. “…I think he’s finding a great balance of knowing when to score within the offense vs. letting the guys kind of do their thing…He spends a ton of time on reading the game and the execution of the game.”

Brown’s production this season has seen him enter the MVP race. He’s currently seventh on the NBA’s MVP ladder and reached a season-high ranking of fifth. While he’s unlikely to emerge as a genuine candidate for the prestigious award, he’s proving that when given the opportunity, he can lead a team.

In 28 games, Brown is averaging 29.4 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists, shooting 50.2% from the field and 36.9% from deep. Furthermore, he’s leading the NBA in mid-range efficiency, as he continues to lean into his ability to generate space in the middle of the floor.

Coming into the 2025-26 NBA season, the Celtics were viewed as a team that could struggle to make the Eastern Conference play-in tournament. However, they’re currently third in the East and within touching distance of the first seed. Brown’s production and leadership are a significant reason why Boston is outperforming those expectations.

While the MVP award will likely be out of reach, Brown should certainly find himself in All-NBA discussions this season. In his first year as a primary option, he’s proving himself as one of the best forwards in the NBA. Celtics fans have known that to be true for years, but now the rest of the world will, too.