During a recent episode of his podcast, White Noise, Boston Celtics guard Derrick White predicted that Jaylen Brown would make the 2025-26 All-NBA First Team. Should his prediction come true, it would be the fifth straight season with a Celtic on the First Team, as Jayson Tatum has made it in each of the last four years. Though he noted Denver Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo were the obvious choices, Brown landed among the final three players.
"I mean, probably [Nikola] Jokic, Giannis [Antetokounmpo], that's probably the obvious ones," White said. "Luka Doncic, Shai [Gilgeous-Alexander], and Jaylen Brown."
With Tatum sidelined for (likely) all of next season, Brown could have a chance to take a major leap forward, especially in regard to his counting stats.
Can Jaylen Brown make All-NBA First Team?
The Celtics lost a lot of key pieces this summer. Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday were shipped out in trades, Luke Kornet departed in free agency, and Al Horford is expected to be out the door behind him.
Combine that with Tatum’s absence, and Brown will have a chance to lead the way. The ball will be in his hands more than ever, and if he can help bring Boston to the postseason in its down year, he could be rewarded for his efforts.
However, achieving the heights of First Team would be a tall task, though not one out of Brown’s reach. If he improves his scoring, efficiency, and playmaking, all while helping the Celtics reach the playoffs, it could be possible.
The better question is, who could oppose him? Outside of the four players White mentioned, guys like Anthony Edwards, Donovan Mitchell, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, and Jalen Brunson could all be gunning for a spot on First Team.
All five of those guys are projected to be on winning teams and will likely be leading the way for their squads. That’s the recipe for All-NBA nominations.
But perhaps Brown’s path to earning a First Team nod could be on the defensive end, as he prides himself on being a two-way player. During a recent livestream, he outlined the main ingredient in that quest:
“The conditioning,” Brown said. “Some people don’t give the same amount of effort on offense that they do on defense. Most of our stars in today’s game, they save their energy for offense, they don’t play defense. That’s fine, that’s what we’ve known to love and enjoy, but I don’t think that’s basketball. You gotta give the same energy on both sides of the ball.”
And if he can land a spot on an All-Defensive Team as well, maybe it would put him over the hump for First Team.