Boston Celtics superstar Jaylen Brown had another huge scoring night on Saturday in a win over the Atlanta Hawks, and it’s worth checking up on his MVP status as the season is at its midway point.
Jaylen’s numbers and Boston’s place in the East standings (No. 2 seed as of Sunday) should definitely have Brown among the five most deserving MVP candidates at the moment. Brown is now averaging 29.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game on 49.1 percent shooting. He’s continued to be incredibly durable, per usual.
Durability might be a key variable in this season’s MVP race, because it could keep Nikola Jokić out of the picture. Jokić was the clear front-runner for the award before he went down with an injury, and the amount of time he misses will determine whether or not Brown has a real chance at the award.
The other two guys that JB is competing with are Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Cade Cunningham. Luka Doncic and Tyrese Maxey have stats to keep an eye on, but their teams aren’t winning as much as the Celtics, so the edge should go to Brown there.
Brown’s scoring average ranks fourth league-wide. He’s had multiple standout performances this season, including tying his career-high with 50 points against the LA Clippers on January 3.
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Something amazing is starting to come into view with Brown — he has a chance to be an all-time Celtic when it’s all said and done. He already has a ring and Finals MVP in his trophy closet, but this season has shown just how high his ceiling really is. Remember, this guy isn’t 30 years old yet.
Drafted third overall by Boston in 2016, Brown has spent his entire nine-year career with the Celtics, tallying 19.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game across 641 contests. He’s bagged four All-Star selections, a second-team All-NBA nod in 2022-23.
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Featured image via Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
