Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown feels his case to be named NBA MVP this season goes beyond his impact on the scoreboard.<\/p>\n
When asked in a Thursday appearance on ESPN if he thought he should be named MVP, Brown answered<\/a>, “Analytically, probably not, honestly.”<\/p>\n Brown continued, “But I put my blood, sweat and tears into this season, on the court, from a performance standpoint, doing what my team needs me to do on both ends of the court. And then also from a leadership standpoint, galvanizing guys, getting everybody on the same page in the midst of uncertainty to help keep us in contention at the top of the league.<\/p>\n “Analytics don’t quantify who I am, and who my spirit is.”<\/p>\n Brown was then asked about what it meant to him to hear MVP chants for him at TD Garden.<\/p>\n “It’s great, honestly. I put my all into this year, and for the energy to be reciprocated a little bit at home feels good,” Brown answered<\/a>.<\/p>\n Brown has averaged a career-high 28.8 points, seven rebounds and 5.2 assists in 70 games this season to help keep the Celtics in the playoff race amid Jayson Tatum’s recovery from Achilles injury.<\/p>\n Tatum’s usual role as the Celtics’ go-to ball-handler meant Brown posted<\/a> a 28.2 usage rate last season, good for 16th among players who appeared in at least 60 games.<\/p>\n