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Jaylen Brown still believes the Celtics can make it to the playoffs in the 2025-26 season
The Boston Celtics entered the All-Star break at 35-19, sitting second in the Eastern Conference. Jaylen Brown earned his first All-Star starting nod, recognition that reflects what he has built while operating as Boston’s primary option all season.
Jayson Tatum has not suited up once this year. The torn Achilles from last year’s playoffs has kept him out through the first half of the season. Brown has carried the Celtics without his partner in crime, and the results speak for themselves.
All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles brought the league’s elite together for media availability and exhibition games. On Friday, reporters asked three-time MVP Nikola Jokic about Brown’s MVP candidacy. His response was notable.
Jokic On Brown’s Stellar Season
Nikola Jokic had his response ready when asked what he thinks of Jaylen Brown’s MVP case this season.
“He’s playing at a high level, scoring the ball,” Jokic said. “He’s such a good defensive player too.”
The words came from someone who has stood on the MVP podium three times. Jokic knows what separates All-Star seasons from the ones that deserve the league’s highest individual honor. He sees Brown in that second category.
Jokic pointed to the versatility Brown brings every night. The ability to score at will while also locking down opposing wings. That dual impact is what caught his attention, and he made it clear Brown qualifies as a legitimate candidate.
The acknowledgment matters because Jokic does not hand out compliments freely. His evaluation of peers stays grounded in what actually happens on the court. When he calls someone an elite two-way player, he means it.
.@RealBobManning asked Nikola Jokic what he’s made of Jaylen Brown’s MVP candidacy:
“He doesn’t have his partner-in-crime, and he’s still proving that he can lead the team.”
“He’s playing at a high level, scoring the ball. He’s such a good defensive player too… He’s a really
Brown’s Production Backs Up the Talk
Jaylen Brown is putting up 29.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game this season. Those numbers place him among the league’s best offensive players while he also handles the toughest defensive assignments.
He is shooting 49.1 percent from the field despite teams keying in on him as Boston’s go-to scorer. The efficiency has not dropped even as the volume increased. Brown has taken on the heaviest workload of his career and produced at a higher level than ever before.
January proved what Jokic described. That stretch earned him Eastern Conference Player of the Month honors. The scoring came alongside lockdown defense, the combination Jokic highlighted during his All-Star media session.
The two-way excellence is what sets Brown apart. Plenty of players can score 30 a night. Fewer can do it while often guarding the opponent’s best player. Brown can do both.
Brown Addresses Jayson Tatum’s Return
Jaylen Brown has operated as Boston’s primary option all season. Jayson Tatum has not played a single game while recovering from the torn Achilles he suffered in last year’s playoffs.
Reporters asked Brown during All-Star Weekend how the two stars will reintegrate after months of Brown carrying the offensive load alone. His answer was direct.
“Those conversations have been since we got drafted pretty much,” Brown said. “In terms of winning me and him have done that at a very high level for a very long time. So I’m looking forward to that.”
The response reflected confidence built over years of playing together. Brown and Tatum have shared the court since 2017. They have been to the NBA Finals together. They won a championship together in 2024. The chemistry exists because they have built it over time. Brown was also asked about Tatum’s current physical condition. He kept his evaluation simple.
“In terms of what I’ve seen, he looks pretty damn good,” Brown said.
Brown watches Tatum work every day. He has seen the entire rehabilitation process unfold from the beginning. His assessment carries weight because he knows what Tatum looks like when healthy. If Brown says Tatum looks good, that means something.
GettyJayson Tatum #0 and Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics.
Final Word for the Celtics
Nikola Jokic has won three MVP awards. His perspective on elite basketball holds weight.
Brown has delivered on both ends all season. The offense never stalled. The defense stayed elite. The wins kept coming. Jokic’s words reinforce what Brown has shown for months. He belongs in the MVP conversation, and one of the league’s best players said so directly.
Sunday’s All-Star Game puts Brown on the national stage. His game will do the rest of the talking.
Keith Watkins Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. More about Keith Watkins
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