In Wednesday's edition of First Take on ESPN, in a segment featuring Stephen A. Smith, Chiney Ogwumike, Brian Windhorst, Chris "Mad Dog" Russo, and Shae Cornette, the group weighed in on whether Jaylen Brown or Nikola Jokic has a stronger case for MVP.
Stephen A. Smith articulated his claim for why he would have no issue with the Boston Celtics' star wing, not only edging out Jokic, but taking home the hardware for his impact this season.
"The Boston Celtics are a top 2, top 3 seed in the Eastern Conference. With Jaylen Brown leading the way, averaging nearly 30 in the absence of a Jayson Tatum. I'm sorry, I have no problem with Jaylen Brown being the league MVP right now, zero," voiced Smith.
Examining Jaylen Brown's MVP case
The award's middle initial builds a compelling argument as to why the former NBA Finals MVP should receive the regular-season version of this honor.
As Smith discussed, while the Celtics didn't feel this way, external expectations projected this to be a gap year for Boston. The franchise lost Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, and Luke Kornet in the offseason. And Jayson Tatum is rehabbing a torn Achilles tendon. Over the summer, the idea of him returning during the current campaign appeared less likely to many than it currently does.
Despite what most people anticipated, the Celtics have established themselves as a legitimate championship contender, especially with their path taking them through a wide-open Eastern Conference. If they beat the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night and follow it up with a victory vs. the Brooklyn Nets upon returning home from their West Coast trip, they will reach 40 wins before 20 losses. Since the 1979-80 season, only four teams have failed to hit that benchmark and gone on to lift the Larry O'Brien Trophy. Of course, Boston is operating with a Jayson Tatum-sized caveat.
As for Brown and his MVP candidacy, the former All-NBA Second Team selection is producing 29.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.0 steals per contest this season. He is shooting nearly 50 percent from the field. Even after sitting out the first half of Boston's back-to-back to cap this road trip, a 97-81 victory vs. the Phoenix Suns, due to a right knee contusion, he has suited up in 51 of his team's 57 contests.
Availability is the best ability, and his impressive display of durability is a point in his favor, especially with a 65-game played threshold that has many of the top contenders for league MVP in jeopardy of no longer qualifying.
Brown isn't just durable; he has responded to his opportunity to shoulder more responsibility by fashioning a campaign that earned him his first-career start in the All-Star Game. It also figures to net him an All-NBA First Team selection.
"Now, with no shadow around him, you get to see Jaylen for Jaylen," expressed Marcus Smart before Boston's 111-89 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.
The tenth-year wing is elevating his teammates by consistently attacking downhill, creating quality looks for himself and those around him. His growth when it comes to repeatedly making the correct read on those drives, has been essential to Boston boasting the second-best offensive rating in the Association.
As a two-way star who doesn't shy from guarding the other team's top option, it's easy to understand why Smith stated he would have no problem with Brown being league MVP this year.