Jaylen Brown is making waves in the NBA this season, and it's hard to argue against his impact. As the sole All-Star on a Celtics team that's been hit hard by injuries, Brown has led Boston to an impressive 36-19 record, placing them second in the Eastern Conference. His contributions on both ends of the floor have been nothing short of remarkable.
Brown has embodied leadership, stepping up whenever the team needs him. Whether it's scoring, playmaking, defense, or grabbing crucial rebounds, he's been the go-to guy.
His versatility is a big reason why Boston boasts a top 10 offense and defense, with the third-best Net Rating in the league. Against all odds, the Celtics are in a prime position to make a deep run in the playoffs.
In 50 of the 55 games this season, Brown has averaged 29.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game. He's shouldered a massive offensive load while maintaining elite defensive play, making him one of the standout players in the league.
Despite these accomplishments, Zach Lowe recently left Brown off his All-NBA first team during a podcast with Howard Beck. While Beck included Brown alongside stars like Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama, Lowe opted for Donovan Mitchell and Luka Doncic instead, suggesting that Anthony Edwards and Kawhi Leonard were also ahead of Brown.
This decision is certainly up for debate. Brown’s Celtics have a better record than the teams of the players Lowe selected, and Brown's stats are comparable or superior. He's done all this with less support, as those other teams have multiple former All-Stars.
When you break it down, Brown's case is compelling. His stats rival Mitchell's, and he's a much stronger defender while leading a more successful team.
Doncic, despite his offensive prowess, struggles on defense, has a worse team record, and has missed more games. Edwards matches Brown in scoring but falls short in other areas, and his team is flirting with the play-in tournament.
Kawhi, meanwhile, has been less productive across the board and has missed significant time, with his team sitting outside the playoff picture.
While Brown's shooting splits and on/off numbers might not be perfect, his overall impact is undeniable. Watching him play and seeing the results tells the real story.
Lowe is a respected analyst, but this time, it seems he might have overthought his selections. There's still time for opinions to shift, and perhaps they will.
Brown's performance certainly makes a strong case for it.