Nobody realistically expected Jaylen Brown to win the 2025-26 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Award, but earning a place in the conversation represented a significant achievement in itself. Against the odds, Brown delivered the best season of his 10-year career, stepping up for a Boston Celtics team that defied expectations throughout the regular season.
While the playoffs ended in disappointment for both Brown and the Celtics, that does not diminish what he accomplished over 82 games. When the MVP voting results were revealed on Sunday, Brown finished sixth — his first-ever top-10 placement — a noteworthy milestone even if it fell short of higher honors.
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A global media panel of 100 voters selected the winner. As anticipated, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander claimed the award for the second consecutive season in dominant fashion, earning 83 first-place votes and a total of 939 points. Nikola Jokic placed second with 10 first-place votes and 634 points, while Victor Wembanyama finished third with five first-place votes and 569 points.
A substantial gap separated the top three from the rest of the field. From fourth place onward, however, the race tightened considerably. Luka Doncic took fourth with 250 voting points, appearing on 92 of the 100 ballots. Cade Cunningham finished fifth with 117 points on 59 ballots, and Jaylen Brown came in sixth with 89 points, receiving votes on 47 ballots.
The only other players to receive votes were Kawhi Leonard and Donovan Mitchell, each earning a single fifth-place vote. This created a clear top three, followed by a competitive but distinct next tier in which Brown landed just behind Cunningham.
A Strong Regular Season Overshadowed?
Finishing sixth in MVP voting is a career high for Brown and underscores the consistency and impact he brought night after night. He helped guide a Celtics roster featuring numerous minimum-contract and rookie-scale players to the No. 2 seed in the East, logging heavy minutes and rising to the occasion amid roster challenges.
Yet the voting results signal trouble ahead for All-NBA recognition. With only five spots available on the First Team, Brown appears likely to miss out if voting patterns hold. He remains a virtual lock for All-NBA selection overall, but a Second Team placement feels probable — a respectable outcome that may still sting given the quality of his season.
This outcome feels particularly frustrating because Brown may never have a stronger individual campaign. His case for First Team honors was compelling, especially when considering the Celtics’ regular-season success. Adding to the debate is the NBA’s handling of eligibility for players like Luka Doncic and Cade Cunningham, who reportedly fell short of the 65-game requirement yet still factored prominently in the voting.
Looking Ahead
The All-NBA teams are expected to be announced later this week. While it would be premature to declare the results definitive, the MVP ballot offers a strong indication of voter sentiment.
Brown’s sixth-place finish should be celebrated as validation of a breakout campaign rather than diminished by what might have been. He carried a heavy burden for Boston and performed at an elite level for the majority of the season. In the broader view of his career, this year will stand out as a high-water mark.
Still, for a player who rose so impressively against the odds, falling just short of First Team All-NBA recognition — if that is indeed the result — would add one final layer of disappointment to what became a difficult end to an otherwise magical Celtics season. Brown’s body of work deserves its flowers, regardless of where the final ballots ultimately place him.