Jaylen Brown Making the Case for Most Improved Player

Jaylen Brown is quietly having a breakout year

The fall. Yes, we all saw it. Jaylen Brown dodged a bullet. He fortunately only suffered a concussion and there was no reported neck or spinal damage. With Brown out for at least a week, the Celtics will greatly miss his versatility. This gives us some time to reflect on what his presence means to the Celtics.

After an inconsistent rookie year playing behind Jae Crowder, Brown has made impressive strides in his sophomore season. Now logging over 30 minutes per game 3rd on the team behind veterans Al Horford and Kyrie Irving – Brown has locked in the trust of coach Brad Stevens. His improvement on both ends of the floor has put Brown in the hunt for Most Improved Player of the Year.

This season, Brown has established himself as one of the best two-way players in the league. On a night-to-night basis, he is usually given the toughest defensive assignment. Brown has thrived with this challenge. He ranks third behind Rudy Gobert and Marcus Smart in defensive win shares of players who have played over 40 games this season. His size, at 6’7”, allows him to guard players as quick as Bradley Beal and long as Kevin Durant. The Celtics missed this defensive versatility last year with their undersized starting backcourt.

NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 24: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Jaylen Brown

Brown has improved the most on the offensive side of the floor. While his scoring averages are up from 6.6 points per game last year to 14.1 points this year, his shooting has also been remarkably efficient. He has improved his 3-point shooting. From behind the arc, he now shoots an incredible 44% from the left corner. Brown is the third and sometimes fourth scoring option on the Celtics. If he was made the first option, it’s possible his scoring averages would eclipse 20 points per game.

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So let’s talk about the Most Improved Player of the Year Award.

In recent years winners have included stars such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jimmy Butler, and Paul George as well as role players such as Ryan Anderson, Hedo Turkoglu, and Aaron Brooks.

Let’s look at the numbers. In the past ten years, the winners of this award in their breakout year averaged 20 points per game, increased their scoring average by 7.3 points, and had played an average of 4 seasons. During their breakout season, their team was pretty average with a winning percentage of just over 500.

So who are the others in this most improved hunt?

Another rising star is Kris Dunn. Dunn, in a similar position, has had a breakout sophomore season. This physical guard has become one of Chicago’s best young prospects. However, Dunn might be out of contention due to the Bulls subpar record.

Spencer Dinwiddie is another competitor for this award. While he has become a primary scoring option for the dwindling Nets, he also likely won’t win the award due to his team’s lack of success.

If it were not for his 13 seasons in the league, Lou Williams would have a very strong shot at winning. While he is only 31 years old, the award tends to favor younger players. Williams, who was snubbed from the All-Star game, will likely win the Sixth Man of the Year award for the second time.

Lastly, Victor Oladipio is the frontrunner for the award. The Pacers, who currently sit at third place in the East, have outperformed expectations. He leads the league in steals and increased his scoring average by eight points this season.

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Oladipio has gone from an elite role player to a borderline star. Brown, has gone from a struggling rookie to an elite role player. That being said, Brown should still be put in the conversation. His versatility makes him the perfect modern-day swingman. Regardless of the outcome of the award, Jaylen Brown has solidified himself as a capable player who could start on any team.