Star Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown has been playing like a Most Valuable Player candidate early in the 2025-26 NBA regular season. And the Georgia native has been recognized b the league and media for that play, being named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week last week and finding himself on the Kia Race to the MVP ladder as well.
Lead assistant coach Sam Cassell had plenty to say in an interview with NBC Sports Boston reporter Chris Forsberg about how Brown has been leading the team so far this season while Boston overachieves in the absence of the Cal alum’s costar on the wing, Jayson Tatum, as the latter recovers from an Achilles injury sustained in the 2025 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals. “He’s been doing great things for us, and he still has a way to go,” said Cassell. “He understands that.”
Advertisement
“Every game for him is a special game for him to show how good of a leader he can be, and he is right now,” he added. “He’s doing everything we ask him.”
TORONTO, CANADA – DECEMBER 7: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics warms up ahead of their NBA game against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on December 7, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
“He’s scoring the ball at a high clip,” continued Cassell. “He’s rebounding the ball at a high clip. He’s getting guys involved. He’s making some great passes. Critical parts of the game that people are not actually paying attention to.”
“But Jaylen has been a great player for us. His defense is improving. He’s going to be in the right position. And when you’re scoring the ball as much as you’re scoring the ball, it’s hard to do both. But we expect him to do both for this team to be successful.”
Listen to “Havlicek Stole the Pod” on:
Advertisement
Blue Wire: https://tiny.ee/CdKp
iTunes: https://tiny.ee/RK47
YouTube: https://tiny.ee/cOW3
This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Doing great things for us: Cassell on Celtics star Jaylen Brown