Jaylen Brown Over SGA? Stephen A. Smith’s Wild MVP Take
The NBA MVP conversation has largely centered around Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander this season, especially after another clutch performance against the Denver Nuggets. However, ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith is not ready to declare the race finished. During a recent segment on First Take, Smith suggested that Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown still has a legitimate path to the league’s most prestigious individual award. His comments quickly reignited debate about the MVP race and whether Brown’s impact this season deserves greater recognition.
- Krishna Sagar
- 5 min read
The NBA MVP debate is one of the league’s most passionately discussed topics every season. Fans, analysts, and players spend months arguing over which superstar has delivered the most impactful campaign. Statistics, team success, narrative, and clutch moments all become part of the conversation. This year, however, many observers believed the race had already been decided.
Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has produced a season filled with highlight performances and historic scoring consistency. His latest moment came during a thrilling 129-126 victory over the Denver Nuggets. In that game, Gilgeous-Alexander hit a decisive three pointer late in the contest to seal the win and delivered yet another elite scoring performance.
The outing also carried historical significance. Gilgeous-Alexander tied a long standing record set by Wilt Chamberlain for consecutive games scoring at least 20 points. For many fans and analysts, that performance appeared to put the finishing touches on an MVP campaign that has been building all season.
But not everyone is ready to close the conversation. On Tuesday morning’s edition of First Take, Stephen A. Smith made it clear that he believes another player still deserves serious consideration. That player is Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown.
1. Stephen A. Smith Reopens the MVP Debate
During the segment, Smith explained why he believes the MVP race may still have a few twists remaining before the season concludes. “Jaylen Brown is a top two candidate for League MVP,” Smith said.
The bold statement immediately grabbed attention because most MVP discussions have focused on Gilgeous-Alexander and a handful of other candidates. Smith pointed to upcoming matchups that could significantly influence the race.
“There are two road games coming up this week at San Antonio and then against Oklahoma City,” he said. Smith emphasized that those games could serve as a proving ground for Brown if he wants to strengthen his MVP case.
“Now Jaylen Brown, that’s going to go a long way towards us looking at what you’re going to do,” Smith explained. According to Smith, the upcoming clash between Boston and Oklahoma City could be particularly important because it would feature the two stars head to head.
2. Why Smith Believes Brown Deserves Consideration
Smith also highlighted the context surrounding Brown’s performance this season. The Celtics have dealt with injuries and lineup adjustments, particularly with Jayson Tatum missing significant time earlier in the year. During that stretch, Brown carried a larger portion of the offensive load.
“You see, we don’t have to look at Shai,” Smith said. “Because when you look at Shai, he’s already League MVP. He’s already an NBA Finals MVP. He’s already an NBA champion.” Smith acknowledged that Brown also has championship credentials, but he pointed out a key difference in their roles.
“So is Jaylen Brown,” Smith said. “But Jaylen Brown was that as a number two option.” That distinction, according to Smith, makes Brown’s current season even more impressive. With Tatum working his way back into rhythm, Smith believes the Celtics star has stepped into the spotlight as the team’s driving force.
“Even though you got Tatum back, he’s still feeling his way back,” Smith said. “It’s still you, Jaylen Brown.”Smith then posed a challenge directly to the Celtics star’s recent performances. “When you roll up into San Antonio, when you roll up into Oklahoma City, what you going to do?”
3. SGA’s MVP Case Remains Powerful
Despite Smith’s comments, Gilgeous-Alexander’s case for MVP remains extremely strong. The Thunder guard has been the centerpiece of Oklahoma City’s success throughout the season. His combination of scoring efficiency, playmaking, and leadership has helped guide the defending champions through another dominant campaign.
His recent performance against Denver only strengthened that narrative. The game featured another clutch moment that has become a hallmark of his season. With the score tight late in the contest, Gilgeous-Alexander rose up and drained a three pointer that ultimately secured the victory.
Moments like that have helped cement his reputation as one of the league’s most reliable closers. Analysts have also noted the consistency of his scoring production.
By tying Wilt Chamberlain’s record for consecutive 20 point games, Gilgeous-Alexander joined one of the most exclusive statistical clubs in basketball history. Those achievements have made him the clear front runner in many MVP rankings.
4. Brown Quietly Building His Own MVP Case
While Gilgeous-Alexander continues to dominate headlines, Brown’s season has also been exceptional. The Celtics forward has delivered career level production while helping Boston remain among the top teams in the league.
Through 57 games, Brown is averaging 28.7 points per game along with 7.2 rebounds and 5.1 assists. He is also contributing defensively while shooting 48 percent from the field and nearly 35 percent from three point range.
Those numbers highlight how central he has been to Boston’s success. Even during stretches when the roster faced injuries, Brown helped keep the Celtics firmly in the championship conversation. Some analysts have begun to recognize that impact.
In senior reporter Brett Siegel’s latest MVP rankings, Gilgeous-Alexander occupies the top spot. Brown appears in the top five behind players such as Cade Cunningham, Victor Wembanyama, and Nikola Jokic. That ranking reflects the growing recognition that Brown’s season deserves more attention in the MVP discussion.