Jaylen Brown wins NBA Finals MVP after leading Celtics over Mavericks (2024)

BOSTON — Two years ago, Boston Celtics All-Star Jaylen Brown was not ready for the NBA Finals.

He shot 43.3% from the field and 31.8% on 3-pointers in the final three games – all Celtics losses – and had 10 turnovers in the final two games.

And over the past two seasons, he has rewatched the Celtics’ loss to the Golden State Warriors in that 2022 Finals.

“You can always learn from anything really,” Brown said. “But just being able to watch those moments and learn from them, how to manage your emotions, like, what you would have done differently potentially.

“I don't think that's bad to look at and acknowledge and be aware of. So, I would say a few times at least I've watched the Finals, the whole thing, all the way through.”

Brown assuredly will watch the 2024 Finals more than once, too, but with a different perspective, a different feeling. Brown was ready for this season’s Finals, an improved player in control of his game offensively and defensively.

Brown earned Finals MVP for his production in the Celtics’ 4-1 win against the Dallas Mavericks. Boston completed the job, beating Dallas in Game 5 Monday, and Brown had 30 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Brown received seven of the 11 votes, and teammate Jayson Tatum received four.

"My teammates were great," Brown said. "They allowed me to lead us on both ends of ball, and we just came out and performed on our home floor. It's just amazing. You know, it (MVP) could have gone to anybody. It could have gone to Jayson. Jayson, like I can't talk enough about his selflessness. You know, I can't talk enough about his attitude. It's just how he approached not just this series or the Finals but just the playoffs in general. And we did it together as a team, and that was the most important thing."

For the series, Brown, who was the MVP of the Eastern Conference finals, averaged 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.6 steals and shot 44% from the field.

"It was great to see him have that moment and share that moment with him," Tatum said. "I'm extremely happy for him. Well-deserved. That was big-time. He earned that."

Jaylen Brown wins NBA Finals MVP after leading Celtics over Mavericks (1)

Brown had 30 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and one block in Game 3 as he and Tatum became just the second pair of Celtics to each score at least 30 points in a Finals game, joining John Havlicek (40 points) and Bailey Howell (30 points) in Game 6 of the 1968 Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. In Game 1, Brown became the first Celtics player to have at least 20 points, three blocks and three steals in a Finals game.

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“This team has trusted me, especially in this playoffs and those moments to just be who I am,” Brown said. “I felt like I've been able to just deliver just being patient and being poised. Those opportunities have presented themselves, and I've been able to take advantage of them. But I give all my credit to my teammates for the trust they had in me to have the ball in my hands and to be able to make those plays.”

Brown has developed into one of the best two-way players in the league. Last season, Brown made the All-NBA second-team and was an All-Star for the third time this season.

“I told myself that I wanted to just maximize my defensive potential, and I wanted to make First Team All-Defense going into the season,” Brown said. “That didn't happen, but to be able to be in these moments and show your defensive versatility, picking guys up, guarding guys in the post, guarding contested threes, switching on, it's been big for us.”

Said Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla: “The guy just has a growth mindset. He just wants to get better. He yearns to get better. He's not afraid to face his weaknesses on the court.

“So when you have that type of mindset, you're just going to be able to take on every situation that the game brings you. He puts himself in every single situation that he sees in a game. He uses six, seven, eight coaches a day, and every situation on both ends of the floor, he puts himself in that.

“And that's how you have to grow, is to become vulnerable and on the things that make you uncomfortable, and he does that.”

Brown used last season’s seven-game loss to Miami in the Eastern Conference finals as motivation to become a better player.

“Last year, just falling short on your home floor, it definitely hurt …” Brown said. “I felt like the team was relying on me. JT got hurt in Game 7 and I dropped the ball. To me, it was embarrassing. It drove me all summer, drove me crazy."

He added: “It's really just all mentality, mentally just your will, your focus, your perseverance, your ability to overcome self. I think that's what I worked on the most.”

Follow NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt on social media @JeffZillgitt

Jaylen Brown wins NBA Finals MVP after leading Celtics over Mavericks (2024)

FAQs

Jaylen Brown wins NBA Finals MVP after leading Celtics over Mavericks? ›

BOSTON — From a 2024 postseason low to the ultimate high, Boston forward Jaylen Brown earned Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP on Monday with a 21-point performance that included eight rebounds and six assists in the Celtics' 106-86 victory in Game 5 over the Dallas Mavericks.

Who won the Finals MVP for the Mavericks vs Celtics? ›

Brown was ready for this season's Finals, an improved player in control of his game offensively and defensively. Brown earned Finals MVP for his production in the Celtics' 4-1 win against the Dallas Mavericks.

Who was the MVP of the 2008 Celtics Finals? ›

The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics defeating the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals. Paul Pierce was named NBA Finals MVP.

Who won Finals MVP 1986 Celtics? ›

The heavily favored Celtics defeated the Rockets four games to two to win their then-record 16th NBA championship. The championship would be the Celtics' last until 2008. Larry Bird was named the Finals MVP.

Which Celtics have won the Finals of the MVP? ›

Five Celtics have been named NBA Finals MVP. Larry Bird did it twice in the 1980s (1984 and 1986) and has the most of any Boston player. Other Celtics who have been voted NBA Finals MVP are John Havlicek (1974), Jo Jo White (1976), Cedric Maxwell (1981), and Paul Pierce (2008).

Who was the MVP of the 72 Celtics? ›

Third-year center Dave Cowens won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award ahead of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Tiny Archibald. They also won the Atlantic Division for the second consecutive season.

When was the last Celtics MVP? ›

1986: Celtics defeat Rockets 4-2 ▪︎ Head coach: K.C. Jones ▪︎ Larry Bird (BOS) named Finals MVP after averaging 24 points, 9.7 rebounds, 9.5 assists and 2.7 steals.

Who was the MVP of the 1974 Celtics Finals? ›

Boston's John Havlicek was named the series MVP with lesser numbers in all four categories.

Who has 6 times Finals MVP? ›

Michael Jordan has won the award a record six times. Shaquille O'Neal is the only player other than Michael Jordan to have won the award three times consecutively. Tony Parker was the second player born outside the US to win the award, joining Hakeem Olajuwon.

Who was the MVP of the NBA Finals in 2012? ›

The 2012 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 2011–12 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat defeating the Western Conference champion Oklahoma City Thunder, 4 games to 1 in the NBA Finals. LeBron James was named NBA Finals MVP.

Who was the MVP of the 2009 NBA Finals? ›

The Lakers defeated the Magic, four games to one, to win the franchise's 15th NBA championship. Kobe Bryant was named the Finals MVP. The Orlando Magic's Game 3 victory was the first win in an NBA Finals game in franchise history; they were previously swept in 1995 by the Houston Rockets.

Who was the MVP of the Celtics Finals in 1981? ›

Cedric Maxwell, the 1981 NBA Finals MVP, showed his appreciation during a moment with the Larry O'Brien Trophy. In the NBA Finals against the Houston Rockets, Maxwell led the Celtics with 17.7 points per game, finished second in rebounds with 9.5 per game and was third in assists with 2.8 per game.

Who was the MVP of the Celtics Finals in 1976? ›

The Celtics rode their surge to an 87–80 win and their 13th championship. Jo Jo White scored 15 points, giving him 130 points in six games, and was named the series MVP.

Who won MVP for the Celtics in 1984? ›

Celtics forward Larry Bird averaged 27 points and 14 rebounds a game during the series, earning the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP).

Did Brown deserve MVP? ›

Both were deserving, as Brown averaged 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game and Tatum averaged 22.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game. Did the panel get it right? Many were not quite so sure, questioning Brown's selection over Tatum on social media.

Who is 2024 NBA Finals MVP? ›

The Boston Celtics have secured a record 18th NBA title, winning the Finals series 4-1 over the Dallas Mavericks and star guard Jaylen Brown was named the Finals MVP.

What did Tatum average in the Finals? ›

Jayson Tatum has averaged 21.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and 7.1 assists in 11 games in the NBA Finals in his career.

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