Jaylen Brown delivered the best individual season of his career in 2025-26. With Jayson Tatum missing significant time due to injury, Brown stepped up as the clear leader of the Boston Celtics. He played in 71 games and averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.1 assists, while shooting 47.7% from the field.
Brown carried the offense for long stretches, earned his fifth All-Star selection, and was a frontrunner for MVP for much of the regular season.
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Despite his standout year, the Celtics fell short in the playoffs. Boston earned the No. 2 seed in the East but was eliminated by the Philadelphia 76ers in seven games despite holding a 3-1 series lead.
Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown (7) Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Following the Celtics’ exit from the playoffs, Brown made headlines for the negative comments he made about officiating following the Game 7 loss. He was later fined $50,000 by the NBA.
On Friday, however, came much better news for the former Finals MVP.
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The NBA announced Jaylen Brown as one of the finalists for the 2026 NBA Social Justice Champion Award. He joins Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo (Miami), San Antonio Spurs’ Harrison Barnes, Detroit Pistons’ Tobias Harris (Detroit), and Cleveland Cavaliers’ Larry Nance Jr. as a nominee for the prestigious honor.
Brown has been recognized for his continued work advancing economic equity and educational access. Through his Boston XChange and the Boston Creator Accelerator, co-founded in partnership with the Jrue and Lauren Holiday Fund, Brown helped create a $2.5 million capital pool to support minority-owned businesses with funding, mentorship, and institutional partnerships. He has also personally invested in several companies within the program to support their long-term success.
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Additionally, his 7uice Foundation Bridge Program provides mentorship, STEAM exposure, college readiness, and workforce placement for students across the country. During the 2025-26 season, 100% of Bridge Program participants were accepted into every college and university to which they applied.
The winner of the Social Justice Champion Award is expected to be revealed later in the playoffs.
Related: Luka Dončić Makes Personal Announcement After Lakers’ Elimination
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on May 15, 2026, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.