As the NBA season heads into its final stretch post-All-Star break, the spotlight is firmly on the MVP race. Tim Bontemps of ESPN has released the second edition of his MVP straw poll, where 100 media members from across the country weigh in on the contenders. This poll has historically been a reliable indicator of how the MVP race shapes up.
In a recent episode of the Hoop Collective, Bontemps discussed the poll results with Brian Windhorst and Tim McMahon, revealing a surprising development: Jaylen Brown is making a strong push towards the top 5. Brown has climbed from ninth in December to sixth in the latest poll. While he's not quite in the top 5 yet, his trajectory is promising, especially as some of his competitors face potential eligibility issues due to missed games.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander currently tops the poll but is sidelined with an abdominal injury, having already missed eight games. Nikola Jokic, sitting in second, has missed 16 games and is on the brink of ineligibility. Victor Wembanyama and Luka Doncic, in fourth and fifth respectively, also face similar challenges with game limits.
Jaylen Brown’s strength this season has been his remarkable consistency. He's played in 50 of the Celtics' 55 games, showcasing outstanding two-way play and leadership on a team that holds the second seed in the East.
If he maintains this pace and plays around 75 games, a top 5 MVP finish and a first-team All-NBA selection are well within reach. Brown’s performance is not just about surviving the season; it's about thriving and proving his worth.