The Boston Celtics handled strain and conquered the adversity of previous failures to turn out to be NBA champions. However for Jaylen Brown, serving to lead the Celtics to the franchise’s 18th title proved some extent as soon as and for all.
Whereas Boston’s run to a championship was a complete staff effort, Brown is the one who earned the person {hardware} to associate with the Larry O’Brien Trophy. After being named the MVP of the Japanese Convention Finals, Brown added NBA Finals MVP to his resume as nicely.
Jaylen Brown’s greatest video games of the 2024 playoffs
Within the championship clincher on Monday night time, Brown scored 21 factors with eight rebounds and 6 assists in simply over 44 minutes. When the Celtics took a commanding 3-0 sequence lead in a Recreation 3 win, Brown posted his fourth 30-point efficiency of the playoffs.
Brown’s highest scoring output of 40 factors got here in Recreation 2 of the Japanese Convention Finals towards the Pacers, a sequence he averaged 29.8 factors per recreation and saved Recreation 1 with a tough game-tying three-pointer. He additionally had a 33-point recreation within the first spherical and a 32-point night time in spherical two.
All in all, Brown averaged 24.1 factors, 5.8 rebounds and three.1 assists per recreation all through the postseason.
Despite the fact that he did have “off” video games, like connecting on solely 3 of 12 pictures to lose Recreation 4 in Dallas, it is secure to say the Celtics wouldn’t have gained the championship with out Brown’s heroics.
Postseason success adopted All-NBA snub
Brown’s 2024 postseason efficiency made a loud assertion. He responded to an All-NBA snub by letting his play do the speaking.
Brown’s mission then precipitated the dialog to shift, with some asking if Brown is underrated and Boston’s greatest participant. Brown added extra gas to that fireplace by beating out his co-star Jayson Tatum in a detailed 5-4 vote to safe the Japanese Convention Finals MVP.
It was then Brown, not Tatum, being praised and being handled because the No. 1 star on the staff.
However when evaluating Brown’s total resume to that of Tatum, it is sensible why Brown was beforehand solid into the function of Tatum’s sidekick.
Regardless of averaging comparable numbers, Brown has by no means made an All-NBA first-team. In reality, Brown, who’s one 12 months older than Tatum, has solely earned one All-NBA honor — a second-team choice in 2023.
Conversely, Tatum obtained the All-NBA first-team honor for the third straight 12 months in 2024. Brown has been an All-Star thrice, however Tatum trumps that with 5 alternatives.
It is also Tatum, not Brown, who will play for Staff USA within the upcoming Olympics.
As an alternative of being bitter, Brown used being missed as motivation. Nonetheless, now that Boston’s two stars have delivered the Celtics a title of their very own, Brown is lastly having fun with the highlight.
And because the Celtics face new strain to repeat, Brown is the one with postseason packing containers already checked off, having confirmed himself as an MVP on the most important stage.
