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Celtics’ Jaylen Brown deserves more MVP consideration than he’s getting
- Story by
- Celtics’ Jaylen Brown deserves more MVP consideration than he’s getting
Jaylen Brown isn't going to win the MVP.
The award will probably go to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Victor Wembanyama.
Voters have been too conditioned to think of the Celtics standout as Robin to Jayson Tatum's Batman and not a team driving alpha.
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So Brown, who gets frustrated when he doesn't make All-Defensive Team or Player of the Month, will likely be especially vocally annoyed when he doesn't win.
But he'll have a point.
If the "V" in MVP matters, Brown deserves more consideration than he's getting. It's hard to be more valuable than he's been.
After Jayson Tatum went down with the ruptured achilles tendon last year in the playoffs, the Celtics off-loaded salary to improve their long-term cap position. They traded Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday and Al Horford and Luke Kornet didn't come back.
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BETTING:Celtics -15 point spread is listed at -114 on FanDuel for Friday's matchup against the Grizzlies. Our FanDuel Sportsbook review provides a complete guide on how to navigate their site.
They weren't supposed to be good this year. Even the greenest of optimists came into this season hoping Boston would make the playoffs with a middle seed.
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Instead, they've been terrific. The Celtics will head into their final 13 games of the season with a real shot to earn the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference and will head into the playoffs as one of the favorites if not the favorite to reach the NBA Finals.
At 46-23, they've already blasted past Vegas' preseason over/under of 41.5 wins.
In October, ESPN gave them a 51.8% chance of just making the postseason. One NBA insider, and plenty of fans suggested tanking .
Instead they turned Jaylen Brown loose.
Brown has always believed he was good enough to be a team's No. 1 player and has made it clear that he's sacrificed his own stats and accolades to make the Celtics better.
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The fact that he was the NBA Finals MVP in 2024 backed up his assertion. But even then, while he outplayed Tatum, he didn't have to play without him.
This was different. But Brown seized the opportunity. He's faced more defensive attention than he ever has and he's been better. Not only is his scoring up, but so are his assists and rebounding. And he's still an elite defender.
By comparison, Gilgeous-Alexander and Wembanyama have had healthier teams around them this year. Chet Holmgren has played more in Oklahoma City and De'Aaron Fox is healthy in San Antonio.
Still, one of them is likely to have their name announced when the winner is revealed in May.
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Brad Stevens deserves credit for putting together a competitive roster. Joe Mazzulla should be a coach of the year candidate for pressing the right buttons and Brown should be a legit candidate to be MVP.
But all indications are that the trophy is headed elsewhere. The Celtics can only hope that they're still playing when that happens and that the perceived snub puts a chip on Brown's shoulder.
He's been pretty good when he's got something to prove.
Outtakes from a busy week ...
Aaron Judge should know better
Last week, Yankees slugger Aaron Judge told reporters that the World Baseball Classic is "bigger and better than the World Series."
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For a guy who is trending toward being the greatest Yankee to never win a World Series, that quote can't have landed well with Yankee management or fans.
For 16 World Series in a row, somebody else has won. That's cause for panic in the Bronx. Even if Judge believes the World Baseball Classic is better, he shouldn't say it out loud.
Bryce Harper's sportsmanship
As the medals were being conferred at the World Baseball Classic, Phillies star Bryce Harper stepped out of line and went over to congratulate many of the Venezuelan players.
"I just feel like in those moments, I mean, it's like the Olympics or anywhere else, right?," Harper said. "I'm really happy for them. Obviously, I want to win…but in that moment, it's not about me. It's about us in our game. They had a great tournament."
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The Top 5
Top 5 2026 Team USA Athletes with Massachusetts Connections
5— Aerin Frankel, Boston Fleet
4— Griffin LaMarre, Haverhill native
3— Roman Anthony, Boston Red Sox
2— Megan Keller, Boston Fleet
1— Connor Hellebuyck, UMass Lowell
Real Jeopardy! Clue
Sports clues from actual editions of America's favorite quiz show. As always, mind the date
CATEGORY: Home run sluggers $800
Date: July 10, 2006
As of opening day 2006, Carlos Delgado is the last to hit this record-tying number of homers in a game
— Answer below
Today in Massachusetts Sports History
March 20
2020 —After 20 years with New England, Tom Brady officially agrees to sign with Tampa Bay.
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Lightning round
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I get why the Hockey Hall of Fame isn't returning the pucks used to score the game-winning goals in both Olympics gold medal games despite Jack Hughes' complaints. But it is a little strange that those pucks from Team USA victories will forever live in Canada.
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The Blackstone Valley co-op hockey team, which had its senior night shattered by the shooting at the rink in Pawtucket, won the Rhode Island state championship last week. To have that much poise in the face of such a tragedy is inspiring.
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NCAA Tournament survivor pool seemed like such a good idea until I picked Wisconsin on Day 1.
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I love that Amy Madigan won, but how was Chase Infiniti not nominated?
Making the World a Little Better Through Sports
I'm still figuring out exactly how I want this to be configured long term. But I'm adding a little guaranteed positivity to this space, highlighting something that happened or is upcoming for charity related to sports.
From this week:
∗ Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy was one of four NHL players to design socks as part of a collection created for Saturday's World Down Syndrome Day.
Each pair of socks is unmatched as a celebration of differences. McAvoy's sock is paired with his Olympic teammate Dylan Larkin's.
From the NHL:
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"McAvoy's sock has a nature-inspired pattern that incorporates the "three arrows" symbol, which represents the three copies of the twenty-first chromosome in the Down syndrome community."
The socks are available at both shop.nhl.com and ForBareFeet.com .
∗ The Bruins' wives and girlfriends also hosted a baby shower for expectant military mothers on Saturday at Ferncroft Country Club.
Each mother-to-be received gifts from the Bruins and the Boston Bruins Foundation including a MamaRoo Swing.
∗ The Celtics took part and helped unveil a newly renovated basketball gymnasium at Match Community Day in Hyde Park as part of a charitable program between the team and Dinkin'. Celtics big man Luka Garza spoke and played games with the kids.
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If you have an event you'd like considered for this spot, send me an email at MVautour@masslive.com.
Real Jeopardy! Question:
What is 4?
Finally...
Happy National Ravioli Day to those who celebrate.
More Friday Outtakes
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