NBA's gift to Jaylen Brown will put a smile on Celtics fans' faces

Jaylen Brown has earned a starting spot in this year's NBA All-Star Game. The former Finals MVP has spent this season proving what he always believed: that he is a bona fide top option -- one who could star in that role while helping to deliver team success.

His latest reward for that is quite the distinction, as the now five-time All-Star earns his first chance to start in the NBA's marquee exhibition event. The other starters from the Eastern Conference are Jalen Brunson, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Tyrese Maxey, and Cade Cunningham. Hours after finding out about this recognition, Brown will face Cunningham in a Martin Luther King Jr. Day matchup between the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons.

As for the starters in the Western Conference, that group is comprised of Stephen Curry, Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, and Victor Wembanyama.

This year's NBA All-Star Game features a new format consisting of three teams: two comprised of U.S. players and one of international talent. These eight-player rosters will be drawn from a pool of 24 players, split evenly between the Eastern and Western conferences.

MVP candidate Jaylen Brown

The Marietta, Georgia, native has steered the Celtics to second in the Eastern Conference standings. He is thriving with more responsibility, a faster pace, and more freedom to fire from the mid-range.

Brown is averaging 29.7 points on 49.1 percent shooting. He is also grabbing 6.4 rebounds, dishing out 4.8 assists, and swiping 1.0 steals per game.

He is averaging the third-most drives per game and ranks in the top four in shots made from the mid-range, per NBA.com. That is a difficult balance to maintain.

However, his ability to attack off the dribble, particularly when that produces paint touches, is creating high-quality scoring chances for his teammates. It captures his ability to act as a rising tide that lifts all boats.

For his individual and team success, defying the expectations of most pundits before the current campaign got underway, Brown has established himself as a top-five MVP candidate on NBA.com's MVP ladder.

"Brown lacks an All-Star teammate but is producing a career year and showcasing his ability to be a No. 1 option," writes NBA.com's Shaun Powell. "The test for Brown is to stretch his impact for another few months to make Boston a top-six lock for the playoffs, which will require durability and consistency. So far, so good; Brown has proven to be dependable for Boston, which can't afford too many sub-par games from him."

Fortunately for the Celtics, those have been difficult to find during a career year that has now propelled Brown to a starting spot in the NBA All-Star Game.