Celtics legend praises Brown for carrying Boston through adversity
Paul Pierce has seen just about everything when it comes to Celtics basketball (47-23): championship runs, superstar ascents, and the grind it takes to carry a franchise.
So when he says Jaylen Brown deserves to be in the MVP conversation, it carries weight.
And more importantly, it reflects what’s been unfolding in Boston all season.
“Have you been enjoying watching the Celtics team, and are you surprised at all by how much success they've had?” Pierce was asked after partaking in a community event at TD Garden on Sunday afternoon.
“I think we all are surprised,” said Pierce. “I mean, when you lose as much as the Celtics lost from the championship team - talking about the veteran experience for Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, Al Horford, guys of that nature, and for them to be in a position they are today, no Tatum all year long until recent, I think Brown is having an MVP season.
“I mean, not enough is being said on how he's held down the fort for pretty much all year. To elevate his game in his 10th year - to be able to still elevate your game in your 10th year is pretty amazing, because most of the time guys are who they are by the time they're in their 4th, 5th year. But just to see his maturation process at this stage, it's just unfortunate that he's not in MVP talks like he should be.”
It’s hard to argue with any of that.
Brown has been the constant for a Celtics team that, as Pierce pointed out, has dealt with real turnover and adversity.
With Jayson Tatum missing significant time and Boston reshuffling key pieces, Brown didn’t just maintain his level, he raised it.
He’s averaging 28.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 5.2 assists across 63 games, while leading Boston to a 47-23 record and firmly into the No. 2 seed in the East. And lately, he’s taken it up another notch.
A 41-point explosion against Phoenix (39-32).
A dominant 32-point performance against Golden State (33-38).
A 30-point night in Memphis (24-46) to steady a potential trap game.
That’s not just consistency. That’s control.
It also aligns with what we’ve been seeing night after night:
Brown dictating games as a scorer, playmaker, and physical presence, often setting the tone for everything Boston wants to do.
Whether or not the MVP conversation catches up is another story.
But inside TD Garden - and now from one of the franchise’s all-time greats - the message is already clear:
Jaylen Brown isn’t just having a great season.
He’s having an MVP-caliber one.
Mar 14, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) during warmups before a game against the Washington Wizards at the TD Garden. (Brian Fluharty/Imagn Images)JOIN THE CONVERSATION:
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Tom Carroll is a contributor for Roundtable, with boots-on-the-ground coverage of all things Boston sports. He's a senior digital content producer for WEEI.com, and a native of Lincoln, RI.