Does 3-time All-Star, Jaylen Brown, desire a larger role with the Boston Celtics?
That’s the question that has been asked in light of a realization that the swingman recently hit the like button on a tweet suggesting that if were the No. 1 option for the Celtics that he would be in MVP contention, averaging 30+ points per game.
Jaylen Brown 👀 pic.twitter.com/SE5DaefUg5
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 13, 2024
Jaylen Brown Causes Social Media Stir with MVP Thoughts
Of course, the stir that Brown caused by liking that tweet could be much ado about nothing.
For one, many of the tweets he’s recently liked point out his defensive impact. Far from the first or the last athlete to like adoration, Brown may have simply appreciated the tweet. There’s nothing untoward about that.
Secondly, if Brown believes he has MVP potential, he has every right to. Many athletes think highly of their abilities. One as accomplished and talented as Brown should be expected to be confident in themselves as well. The third overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, Brown has improved as much as any player in recent memory when comparing their play pre-draft and post-draft.
Among active players, perhaps only Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kawhi Leonard —both selected 15th overall in their respective drafts —have developed as much in terms of their skill. Entering the NBA as a raw but athletic wing, Brown has made tremendous strides. Indeed, his development as a better ball-handler, jump shooter, and low-post scorer has led to him becoming a go-to option.
Brown’s role has shifted this season amid the Celtics’ acquisition of Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, and Kristaps Porzingis. However, he’s still averaging 22.9 points per game on 50.0 percent shooting from the field and has looked more polished than last season while doing so. Last season, he averaged a career-high 26.6 points per game before signing the richest contract in NBA history. Yet, as a rookie, Brown averaged just 6.6 points per game.
Too Many Mouths to Feed
One of the obvious benefits of amassing as much talent as Boston has is that no one player has to have too much responsibility.
To that point, the primary reason that Brown averages 3.7 fewer points than last season is that they acquired Porzingis. A one-time All-Star, Porzingis essentially replaced shot-blocker Robert Williams III, who they traded to the Portland Trail Blazers —along with Malcolm Brogdon —in the deal that landed them Holiday. Where Williams averaged 8.0 points per game last season, Porzingis is averaging 20.4 points per game.
Porzingis’s scoring impact is so large compared to Williams that it’s even cut into Jayson Tatum‘s production. Tatum holds the Celtics record for the highest scoring average in a single season (30.1). He set that record in the 2022-23 season. In 2023-24, Tatum is averaging 27.0 points per game, 3.1 fewer points per game than last season.
Between Tatum, Porzingis, Holiday, and White, there may be too many mouths to feed for any one of them to become an MVP candidate. The balancing act could also lead voters to believe that there’s too much talent in the group for one of them to win MVP, an argument currently used against Tatum.
Occam’s Razor
There’s also the possibility that Brown simply views himself as someone who should be the team’s No. 1 scoring option. Not because he has any issues or feelings of ill will towards Tatum but because that’s what he sees. After all, when comparing their abilities as scorers alone, Brown does seem to have the edge.
Tatum has posted higher scoring averages, not only due to their roles but also due to his 3-point prowess and free-throw production. Yet, Brown is more explosive, the better ball-handler, a more dynamic shot-creator, a better finisher, and generally more of a threat inside the arc. All this while, though streaky, being a respectable 3-point threat as well.
There is also a difference in playmaking, which leans towards Tatum. This is notable because the bigger the threat of a player as a scorer, the more defensive attention they draw. With that on-ball gravity, said scorer will have greater potential to create plays for his teammates, which would then lessen the defensive pressure put on him.
At this point, Tatum has recognized that and played into it. Brown has recognized that as well and is growing into it. With that said, for Brown to truly become an MVP-worthy player, he has to find the balance between leaning into the options his scoring gravity provides and doing the job himself, whether that happens with the Celtics or with another franchise.
