Celtics’ Jaylen Brown named 2024 Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP

BOSTON — From a 2024 postseason low to the ultimate high, Boston forward Jaylen Brown earned Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP on Monday with a 21-point performance that included eight rebounds and six assists in the Celtics’ 106-86 victory in Game 5 over the Dallas Mavericks.

Brown bounced back from a playoff-low 10 points in Game 4 to lead Boston to a 4-1 series victory over Dallas and the club’s NBA-record 18th championship.

“You’re going to have to fight and just stay in the moment,” Brown said after Game 4. “That’s what matters most. At this level, you have some very talented players who are going to be on the floor, and you’ve got to bring it every single night.”

Brown certainly did that in Game 5 with 15 points in the first half, combining with Jayson Tatum’s 16 as Boston stormed to a 67-46 lead at halftime. The Eastern Conference Finals MVP, Brown averaged 20.8 points in the Finals with 5.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.6 steals while shooting 44% from the field.

Brown’s best outing of the series came in Game 3, when he racked up 30 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and a block, joining Tatum as just the second pair of Boston Celtics to each produce at least 30 points in a Finals game.

Brown reached a milestone in Game 1, too, by becoming the first Celtic to score 20 points with three blocks and three steals in the Finals.

“It was a full team effort,” Brown said after receiving the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP trophy. “I share this with my brothers and my partner in crime, Jayson Tatum. He was with me the whole way. I’ve been grateful for every moment, every opportunity. I never hung my head.”

He didn’t even do that two years ago, after he shot 31.8% from deep over the last three games of the 2022 NBA Finals and committed 10 turnovers in the last two contests as Golden State took the title on Boston’s home court.

“He’s not afraid to face his weaknesses on the court,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “So, when you have that type of mindset, you’re just going to be able to take on every situation the game brings you. And that’s how you have to grow is to become vulnerable on the things that make you uncomfortable. He does that.