The NBA announced on Monday that Celtics star Jaylen Brown was named Eastern Conference Player of the week, joining Derrick White and Jayson Tatum as the third Celtic to be recognized this season.
It was the third time in his career that Brown was given honor, and this one came after he led the Celtics to a 3-0 week while averaging 31.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. Brown recorded at least 27 points and five rebounds in each of those games, including a 41-point, 13-rebound game against the Spurs on Sunday.
Though the award only focused on last week’s games, the start of Brown’s dominant stretch dates back further, as he has been playing at an All-NBA level all 2022-23. On the season, Brown is now averaging 27 points — which is good for ninth-best in the NBA — seven rebounds and three assists per game. He is accomplishing these numbers all while shooting 49.4% from the field.
This is an important season for Brown, as he has a real shot at making an All-NBA team, which would make him eligible for the supermax extension with the Celtics that would be worth nearly $290 million over the next five seasons. All Brown would have to do is make one of the three All-NBA teams. Not only would the supermax make Jaylen significantly more money, it’ll always help the Celtics bring him back on a long-term deal.
“He’s the best shooting guard in the league,” Malcolm Brogdon said. “He’ll be All-NBA, he’ll make one of the teams this year.”
Al Horford and Grant Williams echoed Brogdon’s sentiments taking to twitter Monday afternoon.
Brown has especially strengthened his All-NBA case since returning from the All-Star break, going on an absolute tear during the stretch. In 15 games since the break, Brown is averaging a team-high 28.5 points per game, which is also good for ninth-best in the NBA.
Brown has also scored at least 25 points in 12 of those 15 games, totalling 428 points over that stretch, which is good for third in the league behind Joel Embiid and Devin Booker. To go along with his 28.5 points per game since the break, Brown is also averaging 6.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game.
What will complicate things for Brown when it comes time to select All-NBA teams will be his position. Players that receive votes at multiple positions are only eligible at the position they receive the most votes, and Brown has played both guard and forward for the Celtics this season.