There might never be a better season for star Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown to make a run at winning the NBA’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. Yet the odds are still stacked against the Georgia native with names like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, and Victor Wembanyama still ahead of them on most projections for who is going to win MVP for the 2025-26 regular season.
But for Hall of Fame forward Tracy McGrady, Brown is already his choice for MVP this season, and he said as much at this year’s All-Star Week proceedings. “When I look around the NBA, and for me, the criteria is: How productive are you for your team? How impactful are you to your team? The leadership that you’re providing. What are you up against, against the other MVPs?” said McGrady of why he sees Brown as his MVP.
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“I just think (of) what he had to go through – Losing Jrue Holiday, losing Al Horford, (Kristaps) Porzingis, (and) Jayson Tatum is out. And then you bring in a new cast of guys, try to get them acclimated with everything you guys are doing.”
Feb 3, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) warms up before the game against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
“You’re playing both sides of the ball,” continued McGrady. “You’re averaging 28, 29 points. Third (second, actually, at present – Ed.) in the Eastern Conference.”
“And when I look at that landscape, look at Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander), I look at Jokic. These guys have missed time, but they have their respective teams. Their core guys are coming back.”
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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Why Celtics star Jaylen Brown is Tracy McGrady’s MVP