Jaylen Brown: “People constantly just move the bar” in the MVP race

Jaylen Brown has put together the best all-around season of his career. That’s less opinion than fact at this point.

The Boston Celtics forward is averaging 28.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 5.1 assists while carrying the team through most of the season without Jayson Tatum. Boston has held a firm grasp on second place in the Eastern Conference despite major roster turnover and months of uncertainty, keeping just enough distance between themselves and the Knicks and Cavaliers.

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And yet, Brown still isn’t widely considered a serious MVP contender. He finished sixth in ESPN’s latest straw poll, receiving zero first (or second) place votes.

Speaking on the Cousins podcast with Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady (am I the only one who assumed this meant DeMarcus Cousins’ podcast?), Brown acknowledged that winning the award would be meaningful, but also suggested the standards for earning it can feel like a moving target.

“I feel like I fit the criteria for it,” Brown said. “Especially with what people were saying about me before the season… I’ve been able to shoulder that and help lead my team to where we are now.”

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“But people constantly just move the bar. Now we fast forward, and now I don’t have enough to fit the criteria. So, I probably never will, no matter what.”

It’s a sentiment that probably resonates with many Celtics fans who have watched Brown’s season unfold.

Boston entered the year surrounded by questions. The Celtics moved on from several key pieces of last year’s championship roster, and Tatum has missed a large portion of the season recovering from his Achilles injury. Analysts and fans alike expected the team to slide down the standings.

Instead, the former Finals MVP raised his game to another level. Brown became the Celtics’ primary offensive engine, took on a larger playmaking role, and helped guide a younger roster through one of the most unpredictable seasons the franchise has faced in years.

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The MVP race, however, remains stacked. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokić, Luka Dončić, and Victor Wembanyama have all produced seasons that…

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Publish date : 2026-03-12 09:34:00

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