Jaylen Brown

Across the dozens of reasons capable of explaining Jaylen Brown’s evolution into one of NBA history’s premier two-way talents, there’s one unique trait that shined without fail on the championship stage: the rare ability to win high-profile, 1-on-1 battles on both sides of the floor. Give the newly-named Finals Most Valuable Player an opening and a little motivation, though, and he’ll show you he doesn’t mind taking on the efforts of an entire team as well. Surveying the Dallas Mavericks’ defense through his trademark, determined glare, Brown escapes the pick-and-roll maze with a deceptive between-the-leg dribble, leaving a pair of defenders in his rearview. Unwilling to change his plans with two new Mavericks prepared to join his flight, the Boston Celtics star merely elevates higher, stretching out to deliver an authoritative one-handed flush. Brown — fittingly eye-level with the NBA Finals trophy painted onto the stanchion below the rim — showed how much greatness meant, leading the Celtics’ series-opening charge on the way to a 1-0 series lead on June 6, 2024. Picking up precisely where he left off during the East Finals, Brown dazzled on both ends with 22 points, six rebounds, two assists, three steals, three blocks, and two 3-pointers.