Stephen A. Smith Vows to Help Jaylen Brown's MVP Case

The ESPN analyst says he'll do everything in his power to ensure Brown wins the NBA MVP award this season.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 12:19am

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ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith made a bold declaration about Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown's MVP candidacy, saying he will do everything in his power to ensure Brown wins the award this season. Smith criticized the officiating that led to Brown's ejection earlier this week and tied Brown's candidacy to a perceived lack of recognition for the Celtics forward. Brown recently addressed the MVP race himself, saying the standards keep moving and that he may never win the award no matter what he does.

Why it matters

Jaylen Brown has emerged as a legitimate MVP candidate this season, leading the Celtics in scoring and helping the team remain near the top of the Eastern Conference standings despite injuries to Jayson Tatum. Stephen A. Smith's strong endorsement of Brown's case could help sway voters and raise Brown's national profile as a superstar-caliber player.

The details

Brown lost a major national stage earlier this week when he was ejected from the Celtics' loss to the San Antonio Spurs after receiving two technical fouls in the second quarter. Smith argued the ejection cost Brown a critical MVP showcase. He then declared he will do everything in his power to ensure Brown wins the MVP award this season, criticizing the officiating and tying Brown's candidacy to a perceived lack of recognition for the Celtics forward over the years.

  • On March 13, 2026, Stephen A. Smith made his bold declaration about Jaylen Brown's MVP case.
  • On March 14, 2026, the Celtics host the Oklahoma City Thunder in a key matchup that could impact Brown's MVP chances.

The players

Jaylen Brown

A star forward for the Boston Celtics who has emerged as a legitimate MVP candidate this season, averaging 28.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game.

Stephen A. Smith

A prominent ESPN analyst who is known for his passionate takes on the NBA and other sports.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The star guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder who is also considered a top MVP candidate this season, averaging 31.7 points per game.

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What they’re saying

“He's got to show up tonight for the purposes specifically of the MVP award. Tonight is the most important game of Jaylen Brown's season.”

— Stephen A. Smith, ESPN Analyst

“I am going to do everything in my power to give him all benefit of the doubt to capture league MVP... he's not going to be robbed if I have anything to say about it.”

— Stephen A. Smith, ESPN Analyst

“Jaylen Brown is a really, really good dude who has been underappreciated in terms of notoriety for years. He is a guy that is a conscientious observer. He is a highly, highly intellectual dude that's very philanthropic and charitable with his community.”

— Stephen A. Smith, ESPN Analyst

“Oh, it would be cool. It would be nice. But in terms of like, winning an MVP versus winning the championship, it's a big gap for me. I'd rather play for another championship. But it would be nice. That's not in my control.”

— Jaylen Brown

“I feel like I fit the criteria. I've been able to shoulder that and also help lead my team to where we are now. But people constantly just move the bar. Now we fast forward, and now I don't have enough to fit the criteria. So I probably never will. No matter what.”

— Jaylen Brown

What’s next

The Celtics' matchup against the Thunder on March 14, 2026 could have a major impact on Jaylen Brown's MVP case, as he looks to bounce back from the ejection earlier in the week and outperform fellow MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

The takeaway

Stephen A. Smith's passionate endorsement of Jaylen Brown's MVP candidacy highlights the growing recognition of Brown as an elite NBA player who has been underappreciated at times. While Brown says he cares more about winning championships than individual awards, this high-profile support could help shift the national narrative and give him a better chance at capturing the MVP trophy this season.