Jaylen Brown vs. Jalen Brunson: A New MVP Debate Emerges
Jalen Brunson’s arrival in New York back in 2022 sparked a new era of hope for the Knicks. Since then, he’s flirted with MVP buzz, but never quite broken into the inner circle of serious contenders. And this season, with the 2025-26 campaign in full swing, Brunson seems to be slipping further from that conversation.
Now, a fresh wrinkle has entered the MVP debate - and it’s coming from a three-time NBA champion who knows a thing or two about what it takes to win. Danny Green made headlines this week when he threw his support behind Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown, saying Brown deserves more MVP consideration than Brunson.
It’s a bold take, but not without merit.
The Case for Jaylen Brown
Green’s argument wasn’t a knock on Brunson’s game - far from it. Instead, it centered on context.
Specifically, the pieces each player has around them. The Knicks are loaded, with Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart helping shoulder the load.
That’s a strong supporting cast for Brunson to work with on a nightly basis.
Brown, on the other hand, has been carrying a much heavier burden in Boston. With Jayson Tatum sidelined, Brown has stepped into the lead role and hasn’t just held the line - he’s elevated it.
He’s averaging a career-best 29 points per game, along with six rebounds and nearly five assists. Those are big-time numbers, and they’ve helped keep the Celtics in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race.
At 15-11, Boston is sitting in the No. 3 spot in the East - just a few games behind the 18-7 Knicks. For a team that’s been without its franchise cornerstone in Tatum, that’s impressive.
As Green put it on his No Fouls Given podcast: “The expectation for them was a lot lower… He [Brown] has a lot less to work with in Boston than Jalen Brunson has. So, for them to be a 3 seed in the East, you’ve gotta give him a little bit more respect and flowers.”
Brunson’s Brilliance - But a Crowded MVP Field
None of this is to say Brunson hasn’t been fantastic. He’s been the engine of one of the East’s top teams, continuing the steady, efficient play that’s made him one of the most reliable point guards in the league. But MVP is a tough mountain to climb - especially in a year where names like Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are putting up historic numbers and leading elite teams.
Brunson’s numbers, while excellent, may not have the flash or narrative weight to push him into that upper echelon. And with the Knicks’ deep roster, it’s easy for voters to wonder how much of the team’s success is directly tied to Brunson alone.
That’s where Brown’s case gains traction. He’s doing more with less - at least on paper - and he’s doing it in a high-pressure environment where expectations were tempered after Tatum’s injury.
Boston wasn’t supposed to be here, not without their MVP candidate. And yet, here they are, right in the mix.
Will Either Player Crack the MVP Top Tier?
Let’s be real - neither Brown nor Brunson is likely to walk away with the award this season. Jokic is still doing Jokic things.
Gilgeous-Alexander is playing like a man possessed in Oklahoma City. There are a handful of other names - Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, even Anthony Edwards - who all have stronger statistical resumes or team success narratives.
But that doesn’t mean the conversation isn’t worth having. Green’s take shines a light on something that often gets overlooked in MVP chatter: context.
Numbers matter, of course. Wins matter.
But so does the situation - who you’re playing with, what you’re being asked to do, and how well you’re answering that call.
Jaylen Brown may not win MVP. Neither may Jalen Brunson.
But both are playing the best basketball of their careers, and both are central to their teams’ success. That deserves recognition.
And if Brown finishes the season with better numbers, a higher usage rate, and a top-three seed in the East without Tatum? Well, don’t be surprised if more voices join Green’s chorus.
The MVP race is always crowded - but every now and then, a player forces their way into the conversation. Brown might just be doing that right now.