Jaylen Brown is putting together the best season of his career, and it’s happening under the toughest circumstances.
With Jayson Tatum sidelined, Brown has stepped into the role of franchise centerpiece for the Boston Celtics. Instead of slipping into a gap year, the Celtics have stayed firmly in the title conversation, mainly because of Brown’s elite two-way dominance.
His near-30-point scoring average and defensive impact have now earned him serious MVP buzz, and one former NBA champion believes Brown should be leading the race.
Kendrick Perkins Names Jaylen Brown as MVP Favorite
On the first episode of NBA Countdown in 2026, former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins made a bold declaration, naming Brown as his current MVP frontrunner over stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokić, and Jalen Brunson.
“What this man is doing right now, no other player — that includes SGA, Jokic… Brunson is doing at the level of Jaylen Brown,” Perkins said.
“Not only is he getting you almost 30 points on 50% shooting and shooting close to 48% from the three-point line, but he’s also getting it done on the other side. His opponents’ field-goal percentage — he’s ranked second in the league. That’s higher than Victor Wembanyama.”
“Name me another player that’s carrying a franchise and doing more with less. When you talk MVP and the best two-way player in the game, I don’t know one better than Jaylen Brown right now.”
Perkins’ argument centers on Brown’s rare ability to dominate on both ends while shouldering the offensive burden of an undermanned roster.
Brown’s production this season supports every bit of the praise and puts the 2024 finals MVP for yet another most valuable player award.
He is averaging 29.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game while shooting over 50% from the field and more than 37% from three. He was also named Eastern Conference Player of the Week twice in December, further solidifying his league-wide impact.
The Celtics currently sit third in the Eastern Conference with a 23-13 record and have gone 8 – 2 in their last 10 games, with Brown leading the team in scoring in seven of those wins. He ranks fifth in the NBA in scoring overall.
Brown’s scoring explosions have included two 50-point performances in his career, most recently tying his career high with 50 points against the Clippers on Jan. 3, 2026, four years after his first 50-point game against the Magic in 2022.
What many believed would be a transitional season for the Celtics has instead turned into a legitimate title push, and Brown is the driving force behind it.
