Dave McMenaminFeb 23, 2026, 12:02 AM ETCloseLakers and NBA reporter for ESPN. Covered the Lakers and NBA for ESPNLosAngeles.com from 2009-14, the Cavaliers from 2014-18 for ESPN.com and the NBA for NBA.com from 2005-09.Follow on XMultiple Authors
LOS ANGELES — After the Celtics beat the Lakers 111-89 on Sunday, fueled by Jaylen Brown’s 32 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and three steals, he received an MVP endorsement from the other side of the Boston-L.A. rivalry.
The win over the Lakers brought Boston’s record to 37-19, the second-best mark in the Eastern Conference.
James said Brown deserves consideration due to how competitive the Celtics have been despite Jayson Tatum being out all season while recovering from a torn Achilles and losing Jrue Holiday, Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis from their 2024 championship team.
“I think he just used the motivation of a lot of people just saying that they’re going to have a down year,” James said. “The whole championship team pretty much is kind of revamped, and he used it as motivation to keep them afloat. They’re playing great basketball, and it’s because of him and the rest of those guys. He’s taken that next step.”
Brown said he tries not to pay too much attention to criticism or praise that comes his way, but he laid out his credentials for the award as he sees them.
“I feel like I’m the best two-way player in the world,” Brown said. “I play both ends on the court. Night to night, I’m available, which is hard to do. I’m a leader. I help lead my team, empower my team to come out and play confidently, stuff that doesn’t always show up on the analytics. And I’m a winner. I come out and try to win every single night. So I’m grateful.
“It’s an honor to play the Celtics-Lakers rivalry. It’s an honor for LeBron, who’s arguably the best player to ever play the game, giving me some high praise. So, I’m just grateful.”
He could have been referring to how he was caught on camera at a 2024 Las Vegas Summer League game questioning Bronny James’ credentials as a pro while sitting courtside.
Dave McMenaminFeb 23, 2026, 12:02 AM ETCloseLakers and NBA reporter for ESPN. Covered the Lakers and NBA for ESPNLosAngeles.com from 2009-14, the Cavaliers from 2014-18 for ESPN.com and the NBA for NBA.com from 2005-09.Follow on XMultiple Authors
CloseLakers and NBA reporter for ESPN. Covered the Lakers and NBA for ESPNLosAngeles.com from 2009-14, the Cavaliers from 2014-18 for ESPN.com and the NBA for NBA.com from 2005-09.Follow on X
Four-time MVP LeBron James said he thinks Brown has a case this season to earn his first.
James and Brown were All-Star teammates on the USA Stripes team earlier this month.
ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne contributed to this report.
Brown came into Sunday averaging career highs in points (29.2), rebounds (7.0) and assists (4.8).
LeBron makes the case for Jaylen Brown being in MVP talks (1:22)LeBron James says he doesn’t understand why no one is talking about Jaylen Brown’s name in the MVP conversation. (1:22)