Celtics' Jaylen Brown Emerges as MVP Contender in Anonymous Player Poll

Celtics star ranks third in NBA player voting for league's top individual honor.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 9:56pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the fluid movements and actions of a basketball player, rendered in a cubist style with bold, overlapping shapes and vibrant colors.An abstract artistic interpretation of Celtics star Jaylen Brown's dynamic two-way play, capturing his MVP-caliber season through a cubist lens.Boston Today

Despite low preseason expectations for the Boston Celtics after losing key players, Jaylen Brown has emerged as an MVP candidate according to an anonymous poll of NBA players. Brown tied for third in the voting, with players citing his consistent two-way play and ability to lead the Celtics to a strong season despite the team's offseason roster changes.

Why it matters

Jaylen Brown's rise to MVP contention is a testament to his development as an elite two-way player and his leadership in guiding the Celtics to success despite significant roster turnover. His performance this season has defied preseason predictions and solidified his status as one of the NBA's brightest young stars.

The details

In the NBA Anonymous Player Poll conducted by The Athletic, Jaylen Brown received 8.2% of the votes for NBA MVP, tying him with Cade Cunningham and Luka Doncic. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the voting with 39%, followed by Nikola Jokic at 21.4%. One anonymous player cited Brown's ability to elevate the Celtics despite low external expectations, saying 'In terms of what the team lost last year, to come in with the low expectations there were and to see the standings now, it's because of him and the level of play he's been at. He does it on both ends at a super high level. He's consistent every night.'

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The players

Jaylen Brown

A star player for the Boston Celtics who has emerged as an MVP candidate this season.

Jayson Tatum

Brown's All-Star teammate on the Celtics who missed significant time this season due to an Achilles injury.

Joe Mazzulla

The head coach of the Boston Celtics who has guided the team to success despite roster changes.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The Oklahoma City Thunder guard who received the most votes in the anonymous player poll for NBA MVP.

Nikola Jokic

The Denver Nuggets center who received the second-most votes in the anonymous player poll for NBA MVP.

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The takeaway

Jaylen Brown's rise to MVP contention this season has been a remarkable achievement, as he has led the Celtics to success despite significant roster changes and low preseason expectations for the team. His consistent two-way play and ability to elevate his team have earned him the respect of his peers, who have recognized him as one of the league's most valuable players.