Jaylen Brown Is Using Disrespect as Fuel

Recently, Jaylen Brown expressed disappointment with the league not naming him December Eastern Conference Player of the Month.

That honor went to Jalen Brunson, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won the Western Conference’s honor that month. Brown had a lot to say about the matter.

“No disrespect to SGA or Brunson, neither one had a better month than I had,” Brown said during a Twitch livestream. “How do they select this? [Is] someone in the back just picking their favorites… people tell me if I keep my mouth closed, maybe I’ll win awards, that’s exactly why I’m going to keep talking.”

It’s safe to say Brown might get the last laugh, as the former Finals MVP is making a strong case against the other top players in the league to add a regular season MVP trophy to his collection.

Jaylen Brown Is Ascending in National Rankings

The NBA recently released the newest rendition of its weekly MVP ladder and Brown jumped to the No. 3 spot on the list, trailing only Nikola Jokic and Gilgeous-Alexander.

NBA.com writer Shaun Powell gives his explanation for the rapid rise of Brown’s MVP stock in early January.

“What’s more, his playmaking is improved and his defense is up to his high standards,” Powell writes. “The last time he looked this dominant for a stretch was when he won the 2024 Finals MVP. Apparently, he’s still ‘That Guy.’”

“That guy” has been the largest reason that Boston is managing to be competitive in a year where Jayson Tatum has yet to play and NBA game due to injury. 

Adding Fuel To The Fire

Brown’s been playing at an elite All-NBA level during the first half of the season, averaging an efficient 29.7 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.9 assists.

These aren’t empty stats either, in the supposed “lost season” for Boston, the Celtics are currently the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference just one game behind the Knicks and 4.5 games behind the top-seeded Pistons.

After losing that December Eastern Conference Player of the Month award, Brown has been on a tear.

In January alone, Brown is averaging 29.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 5.2 assists. That includes Brown’s 50 point explosion against the Los Angeles Clippers where the two-way menace also had the responsibility of guarding Kawhi Leonard.

As Brown continues to put the league on notice, the disrespect that has plagued the star forward his entire career is bound to fade at some point.

No one can make any more excuses against Jaylen Brown’s ascension: left hand, second option and efficiency talks can no longer stop the inevitable.

The energy has shifted.