The Boston Celtics dealt with pressure and conquered the adversity of past failures to become NBA champions. But for Jaylen Brown, helping lead the Celtics to the franchise’s 18th title proved a point once and for all.
While Boston’s run to a championship was a total team effort, Brown is the one who earned the individual hardware to go along with the Larry O’Brien Trophy. After being named the MVP of the Eastern Conference Finals, Brown added NBA Finals MVP to his resume as well.
Jaylen Brown’s biggest games of the 2024 playoffs
In the championship clincher on Monday night, Brown scored 21 points with eight rebounds and six assists in just over 44 minutes. When the Celtics took a commanding 3-0 series lead in a Game 3 win, Brown posted his fourth 30-point performance of the playoffs.
Brown’s highest scoring output of 40 points came in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Pacers, a series he averaged 29.8 points per game and saved Game 1 with a difficult game-tying three-pointer. He also had a 33-point game in the first round and a 32-point night in round two.
All in all, Brown averaged 24.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game throughout the postseason.
Even though he did have “off” games, like connecting on only 3 of 12 shots to lose Game 4 in Dallas, it’s safe to say the Celtics would not have won the championship without Brown’s heroics.
Postseason success followed All-NBA snub
Brown’s 2024 postseason performance made a loud statement. He responded to an All-NBA snub by letting his play do the talking.
Brown’s mission then caused the conversation to shift, with some asking if Brown is underrated and Boston’s best player. Brown added more fuel to that fire by beating out his co-star Jayson Tatum in a close 5-4 vote to secure the Eastern Conference Finals MVP.
It was then Brown, not Tatum, being praised and being treated as the No. 1 star on the team.
But when comparing Brown’s overall resume to that of Tatum, it makes sense why Brown was previously cast into the role of Tatum’s sidekick.
Despite averaging similar numbers, Brown has never made an All-NBA first-team. In fact, Brown, who’s one year older than Tatum, has only earned one All-NBA honor — a second-team selection in 2023.
Conversely, Tatum received the All-NBA first-team honor for the third straight year in 2024. Brown has been an All-Star three times, but Tatum trumps that with five selections.
It’s also Tatum, not Brown, who will play for Team USA in the upcoming Olympics.
Instead of being bitter, Brown used being overlooked as motivation. However, now that Boston’s two stars have delivered the Celtics a title of their own, Brown is finally enjoying the spotlight.
And as the Celtics face new pressure to repeat, Brown is the one with postseason boxes already checked off, having proven himself as an MVP on the biggest stage.