The Boston Celtics have two legitimate stars.
It’s not usual to see a team having a 1A and 1B instead of a clear-cut Batman and Robin kind of dynamic.
Sometimes it’s Jayson Tatum as the one who goes off, and other times, Jaylen Brown takes matters into his own hands.
That’s why most analysts and fans agreed that the NBA Finals MVP award could’ve gone either way, as they were both quite solid and their averages were pretty similar.
Tatum’s numbers were slightly better and he was the best player on the court in the close-out game, but Brown ended up winning the award.
That’s just how it should’ve been, according to Stephen A. Smith.
.@stephenasmith says Jaylen Brown EARNED being crowned Finals MVP ? pic.twitter.com/AI0kaquk1j
— First Take (@FirstTake) June 18, 2024
Talking on First Take, Smith praised Tatum for the way he showed up in Game 3 and particularly Game 5.
Nonetheless, even if his numbers were slightly better, he thinks Jaylen Brown was the one who set the tone for this team during the NBA Finals.
He embraced the challenge of defending Luka Doncic throughout the course of the series, all while also being a pivotal factor on the offensive end of the floor.
So, while Tatum had the most impressive stat lines of the series, Brown was the one who led by example and, more importantly, was the most consistent player for the team during the first three games, leading the team en route to a 3-0 series lead.
At the end of the day, however, all they cared about was winning the championship, regardless of who was named MVP.
NEXT: Skip Bayless Gets Honest About Celtics After Winning Championship
