Kia MVP Ladder: Jaylen Brown's surge bolsters his MVP case

Welcome to the MVP discussion, Jaylen Brown.

Really, it’s that simple of an announcement, although a bit understated compared to the noise Brown has made all season, but especially lately.

Before he erupted a handful of times and elevated the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference and made a stirring case for higher inclusion in the Kia Race to the MVP chase, Brown was best known for:

• Winning NBA Finals MVP (a fairly historical award).
• Being perhaps the best Jaylen or Jalen in the NBA (a very strong competition when you think about it).
• A well-rounded and smart guy (he’ll remind you he went to Cal-Berkeley).
• Riding shotgun to Jayson Tatum (which isn’t a disrespectful designation).

And now? Brown is making a name for himself as a team-hauling, impeccable two-way player who this week executed a triple-jump on the MVP ladder. He’s now sitting at No. 3.

It’s a deserving rise and puts him among the game’s greats because Brown lately is doing what MVPs do — scoring in bunches, doing other things (defensively, in his case) to impact games and helping his team win. Brown is playing without Tatum and therefore has added responsibilities and there’s no reasonable debate why Brown shouldn’t be this high on the ladder and this deep in the discussion.

“Every night he’s one of the best players in this game,” said teammate Derrick White.

Brown was a fixture on the Ladder for much of the season anyway, helped partly by his 42-point output in a win over the Knicks last month. And then his 50-point demolition of the Clippers (and while matched up with Kawhi Leonard) last weekend is what catapulted him towards the top.

Some context, though: Brown is a turnover machine (No. 4 in the NBA) and the Celtics are playing the soft segment of their schedule. Additionally, Brown needs to demonstrate he can do this over the course of an entire season to finish as a top-two or three MVP candidate.

Still, so far, it’s a career year, statement-maker and a next-level performance that’s rewriting the script on his reputation. And it’s a season you rarely see from players who are the No. 2 option. Suddenly, Brown is showing he can comfortably grab the mic and be the lead singer.

So, it’s time to show respect for the grind and the results so far. The campaign has begun, and the shifting MVP Ladder has an update: Other contenders are being moved down to make room for Jaylen Brown.

Setting the stage this week: The best theatre in the NBA this season has been the Spurs vs. Thunder, and once again, for the fourth time, it’s back on. What possibly can Shai Gilgeous-Alexander do on Tuesday to prevent the defending champs from going 0-4 against Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs? If the Spurs win again, you wonder how that might influence Gilgeous-Alexander’s spot on the Ladder.

The stat to know: Gilgeous-Alexander has the following no-turnover games this season: 46 points, 38 points, 35 points, 31 points, 30 points and 22 points, along with a one-turnover 40-piece.

What they are saying: “He should just be talking about who’s the best player in the NBA right now. That’s the type of basketball Jaylen Brown’s been playing. I’m not sure how he hasn’t moved into the top three of MVP voting.” — Warriors forward Draymond Green on Brown

1. Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets

Last week’s ranking: No. 1 ↔️
Season stats: 29.6 points, 12.2 rebounds, 11 assists

His case: Wait — he’s still sitting on top? Is this a typo, a mistake? No and no. There’s one assessment we can and should make regarding Jokić, and it is this: Nobody was having a better and more dominant season than the Serbian center before he pulled up injured. He leads the league in triple-doubles and double-doubles. Now ask yourself — has anyone come along since and done better overall, not just after Jokić was injured, but from opening night until now? Thought so.

Jokić remains No. 1 until then, or until he’s mathematically ineligible for MVP consideration for failing to meet the 65-game requirement. Neither has happened … yet.

2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

Last week’s ranking: No. 2 ↔️
Season stats: 31.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 6.4 assists

His case: Gilgeous-Alexander remains a highly efficient, low-mistake star whose offensive skills are unmatched by most. This includes his 3-point shooting; while Shai is mainly a mid-range maestro, he’s connecting from deep at 40%.

That said, while Gilgeous-Alexander still has OKC in the top spot in the West, the Thunder aren’t crushing the opposition anymore. He needed 46 points on Wednesday (and a big shot to force OT) to keep OKC from losing to 12-24 Utah, two nights after OKC lost to Charlotte. Other than scoring, winning is Shai’s biggest argument in the MVP race.

3. Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics

Last week’s ranking: No. 7 ⬆️
Season stats: 29.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.9 assists

His case: He’s the biggest reason for the Celtics still being a contender despite the absence of Tatum. Brown is among the league’s scoring leaders and his current scoring average is among the most in a season (so far) in Celtics history. Yes, that includes Larry Bird, John Havlicek, Dave Cowens, Paul Pierce and Tatum.

What’s more, his playmaking is improved and his defense is up to his high standards. The last time he looked this dominant for a stretch was when he won the 2024 Finals MVP. Apparently, he’s still ‘That Guy.’

4. Luka Dončić, Los Angeles Lakers

Last week’s ranking: No. 3 ⬇️
Season stats: 33.7 points, 8 rebounds, 8.8 assists

His case: The league’s scoring leader has a string of five straight games of 30-plus points and continues to set this season’s scoring standard. He’s also among the assist leaders and while there’s an undercurrent of whining about his defense, Dončić is leading the Lakers in steals, so there’s that.

His biggest issue, actually, is turnovers, as he leads the league in that category too. It’s very anti-Gilgeous-Alexander — a byproduct of ball-domination. While the bouts of carelessness don’t reflect especially well on Dončić, it hasn’t cost the Lakers in the standings, either.

5. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

Last week’s ranking: No. 5 ↔️
Season stats: 24.2 points, 11.5 rebounds, 2.9 blocks

His case: He has enhanced nearly every part of his game … whenever he actually plays a game. Wembanyama’s season has endured frequent injury disruptions and he’s currently on a minutes restriction after coping with a left knee bone bruise. The last time he played at least 30 minutes in a game was Nov. 14.

Despite the restrictions, he has made a habit of cramming in lots of production. Case in point was his 21 minutes last Tuesday against the Grizzlies: he scored 30 points with five rebounds and three assists. He’s averaging 22 points and almost 10 rebounds in 21 minutes per game since November.

The next 5:

6. Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons ↔️
7. Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks ⬇️
8. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves ↔️
9. Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers ↔️
10. Kevin Durant, Houston Rockets ⬆️

And five more (listed alphabetically): Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns; Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors; Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers; Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets; Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets

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