Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown should be considered the front-runner for NBA MVP, at least if you ask NBA legend Tracy McGrady.
T-Mac wasn’t afraid to share his opinion on the matter this week, pointing to Brown’s incredible ability to keep Boston a contender despite major roster losses.
Tracy McGrady: Jaylen Brown has to be the front-runner for MVP
“Losing Porzingis, Tatum , Jrue Holiday, & horford means 57% of your offense is gone & you’re tied for 2nd in the East, led by half the duo”
— CELTICS ☘️ BANNER 19 (@BiggLynch) February 4, 2026
Brown, drafted third overall by the Celtics in 2016 out of California, has evolved into one of the league’s premier two-way wings over his decade-long career.
At 29 years old, the 6-foot-6 guard-forward boasts a resume that includes five All-Star selections, an All-NBA Second Team nod in 2023, and pivotal contributions to the Celtics’ 2024 NBA Championship, where he earned both Eastern Conference Finals MVP and NBA Finals MVP honors.
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Across 649 regular-season games, Brown has averaged 19.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.8 assists, shooting 47.9% from the field and 36.0% from three. His development from a raw rookie to a clutch performer has been marked by consistent improvement in scoring efficiency.
In the 2025-26 season, with Jayson Tatum sidelined by an Achilles injury from the prior playoffs, Brown has shouldered the primary offensive load for a resilient Celtics squad sitting at 32-18 through early February.
He’s posting career highs with 29.5 points per game (fourth in the NBA), 7.0 rebounds, and 4.8 assists, while shooting 48.6% overall. Leading the league in made field goals at 10.9 per contest and two-point attempts at 16.0, he’s delivered explosive outings, including a 50-point explosion against the Los Angeles Clippers on January 4, matching his personal best in a 146-115 rout.
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Other standout performances featured 41 points versus the Hawks on January 17 and multiple 30-plus point games, reaching 24 such efforts already.
Brown’s all-around dominance earned him a starting spot in the 2026 All-Star Game for the Eastern Conference.
