Celtics' Jaylen Brown Rises In Latest NBA MVP ladder

Celtics' Jaylen Brown Rises In Latest NBA MVP ladder originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Boston Celtics superstar Jaylen Brown rose from No. 6 to No. 5 in the latest MVP ladder published weekly by NBA.com.

"Jayson Tatum might be on tap to finally return for the Celtics, and he’ll be welcomed, but Boston’s MVP candidate is Brown, whose position on the ladder is partly, if not mostly, due to Tatum’s absence all season," NBA.com's Shaun Powell wrote. "That’s quite the irony."

"But Brown has excelled on both ends of the floor without Tatum, improved his ball-handling and ability to score multiple ways, and most of all has the Celtics in second place in the East. No other star has exceeded higher expectations this season."

Ahead of Brown on the ladder were (1) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, (2) Nikola Jokic, (3) Cade Cunningham, and (4) Victor Wembanyama.

Behind Brown were (6) Luka Doncic, (7) Anthony Edwards, (8) Donovan Mitchell, (9) Kevin Durant, and (10) Jalen Brunson.

Brown is averaging 28.9 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game this season in 55 games played, while shooting 48.0% from the field and 34.8% from three-point range. His scoring ranks fifth league-wide.

Brown's all-around contributions have kept the Celtics competitive, holding second place in the Eastern Conference amid Tatum's absence.

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