LeBron James backs Jaylen Brown for NBA MVP after dominant display
LeBron James has endorsed Jaylen Brown as a serious contender for the NBA Most Valuable Player award following a masterclass performance by the Celtics star.
Brown posted 32 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists to lead Boston to a 111-89 victory over their historic rivals in Los Angeles on Sunday.
Following the defeat, the Lakers talisman insisted that Brown’s contributions this season have been severely overlooked.
“This whole MVP thing, I don’t understand why his name is not getting talked about some as well,” said James.
“Nobody gave them a shot to start the season. And he’s averaging what, 30? Just under 30? It’s a popularity contest sometimes, I tell you.”
Leading against the odds
The victory improved Boston’s record to 37-19, cementing their place as the second seed in the Eastern Conference.
This success comes despite the absence of Jayson Tatum, who has missed the entire campaign recovering from a torn Achilles.
Furthermore, the roster saw significant changes following their 2024 championship, with Jrue Holiday, Al Horford, and Kristaps Porzingis no longer with the franchise.
James believes Brown has thrived under the pressure of leading a depleted squad.
“The whole championship team pretty much is kind of revamped and he used it as motivation to keep them afloat,” the four-time NBA champion added.
“They’re playing great basketball, and it’s because of him and the rest of those guys. He’s taken that next step.”
‘Best two-way player’
Brown, who is averaging career highs in points (29.2), rebounds (7.0), and assists (4.8), believes his impact extends beyond offensive statistics.
“I feel like I’m the best two-way player in the world,” Brown stated.
“I play both ends on the court. Night-to-night, I’m available, which is hard to do. I’m a leader.”
The Celtics forward expressed his gratitude for the high praise coming from the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.
“It’s an honour to play the Celtics-Lakers rivalry,” Brown said.
“It’s an honour for LeBron, who’s arguably the best player to ever play the game, giving me some high praise. So, I’m just grateful.”
Mutual respect
The pair were recently team-mates during the All-Star festivities, allowing them to reminisce about Brown’s rookie season.
Brown revealed that James had predicted his rise to stardom nearly a decade ago.
“When I first got into the league, my first start was against the Cleveland Cavaliers and after the game he came up to me and he told me in my ear, ‘You’re going to be an All-Star one day, you’re going to be a great player,'” Brown recalled.
“He smiles like, ‘Of course, I’m not surprised at anything you’re doing right now.'”