{"id":539569,"date":"2026-03-23T01:23:11","date_gmt":"2026-03-23T01:23:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/539569\/"},"modified":"2026-03-23T01:23:11","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T01:23:11","slug":"paul-pierce-keeps-making-case-for-jaylen-browns-mvp-candidacy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/539569\/","title":{"rendered":"Paul Pierce keeps making case for Jaylen Brown’s MVP candidacy"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBoston Celtics\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t“There’s gonna be some animosity there. Some resentment toward us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"FILE
\n\tPaul Pierce believes Celtics star Jaylen Brown warrants consideration for league MVP honors. AP Photo\/Alex Gallardo\t<\/p>\n

With Jayson Tatum<\/a> now back in the fold, the Celtics have all the makings of being a legitimate title contender in a wide-open Eastern Conference once postseason action ramps up.<\/p>\n

But, The Celtics currently sit in second place in the Eastern Conference with a 47-23 record in large part because of the stellar play of fellow Boston star forward Jaylen Brown<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Thrust into a featured role as Boston\u2019s go-to scorer and leader following Tatum\u2019s Achilles injury last May and the loss of several starters during the offseason, Brown rose to the occasion.<\/p>\n

Through 63 games so far this season, Brown is averaging 28.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game \u2014 all career-highs for the 29-year-old wing \u2014 while also playing stout defense.<\/p>\n

Celtics legend Paul Pierce stressed on Sunday that Brown remains a deserving candidate for league MVP honors this season.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\u201cI think Brown is having an MVP season,\u201d Pierce said after participating in the first-ever Causeway Classic event at TD Garden. \u201cI mean, not enough is being said on how he\u2019s held down the fort for pretty much all year. \u2026 To be able to still elevate your game in your 10th year is pretty amazing, because most of the time, guys are who they are by the time they\u2019re in their fourth, fifth year.\u200b<\/p>\n

\u201cBut just to see his maturation process at this stage. And it\u2019s just unfortunate that he\u2019s not in MVP talks like he should be.\u201d<\/p>\n

This is not the first time Pierce has harped on Brown\u2019s standing as an MVP candidate. In January, Pierce compared the Celtics star to Rodney Dangerfield as far as the lack of respect he receives from his peers.<\/p>\n

\u200b\u201cI\u2019ve been saying this about Jaylen Brown for years now,\u201d Pierce said earlier this year during a recent appearance on \u201cNo Fouls Given.\u201d <\/a>\u201cThere\u2019s not a better two-way player \u2014 I said this about three or four years ago \u2014 he\u2019s the best two-way player in the NBA. Now he\u2019s being able to showcase his skills on a whole new level minus Jayson Tatum.\u201d<\/p>\n

While the Celtics are primed for a promising playoff run in the next few months, Pierce acknowledges that the team-wide success that Boston has achieved for the past two decades hasn\u2019t always led to individual recognition, even if it\u2019s warranted.<\/p>\n

\u200b\u201cI\u2019m happy for them when they reach certain accomplishments,\u201d Pierce said of Tatum and Brown on Sunday. \u201cAlways pulling for them in the media. When I see things that I don\u2019t feel are right, because I feel like Boston players don\u2019t get their just due, for the most part.<\/p>\n

\u200b\u201cObviously, Brown not being in the Olympics, Tatum not getting the minutes. I\u2019m always advocating and pushing for them and fighting for them. So that\u2019s just what it is, and I love to see these guys be successful.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u200bAs far as why players from the Celtics don\u2019t always get their due? Pierce chalked it up to the sustained stretch of success that Boston has achieved across the sports world since the calendar flipped to a new millennium.<\/p>\n

\u200b\u201cI mean, I\u2019d be jealous if they had everything,\u201d Pierce said. \u201cWe have everything. We got the most championships. I mean, probably the best sports city in all of America. I mean, we are. When you look at it from baseball, football, basketball, hockey. There\u2019s gonna be some animosity there. Some resentment toward us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Profile\t<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.<\/p>\n

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