Jalen Brown gets MVP support from Tracy McGrady that will get SGA attention

Hall of Fame forward and NBA analyst for NBC Tracy McGrady approved Boston Celtics All-Star Jailen Brown over Oklahoma City Thunder‘s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for this year’s MVP award. Ahead of the Celtics’ 2025-26 campaign. Jayson Tatum’s ruptured Achilles injury was just the beginning a series of changes for the organization. In an effort to get under the NBA’s tax apron, Boston shed its biggest contracts outside of Brown and Tatum.

Brown is the Celtics’ only active player from the 2024 championship bracket, which for McGrady is one of the many reasons he says Brown should be considered favorite for MVPhe said, per NBA on NBC.

“People don’t understand. You lose Pozingis. (Jayson Tatum) is out. Jrue Holiday is gone and Al Horford is gone. That’s 57% of your offense gone,” McGrady said. “And to go into a season where you have different players in the lineup, put them in your system, you’re tied for second in the East, and half of your duo is a leader? He’s got to be the MVP front-runner for me.”

“He has to be the best player for me.”

Tracy McGrady on Celtics star Jaylen Brown.

Do you agree with T-Mac? 🤔

(via @NBAonNBC)pic.twitter.com/MN3C3iMvsK

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 4, 2026

He finished with 33 points on 15-of-29 shooting, including a pair of 3-pointers, 11 rebounds and three assists to lead the Celtics to a 110-100 victory against the Dallas Mavericks on the road on Tuesday. This is another performance to bolster MVP All-Star Jaylen Brown’s case over Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for Tracy McGrady.

Brown is averaging a career-best 29.5 points on 48.6% shooting. He is also averaging career bests in rebounds (7.0) and assists (4.8) while grabbing 1.0 steals per game.

Jaylen Brown talks legacy after Celtics win

Celtics All-Star Jaylen Brown discussed his own legacy following a 107-79 victory against the Bucks in the inaugural NBA Pioneers Classic. The atmosphere of being around Celtics legends being honored throughout the night got Brown thinking about the kind of legacy he could leave behind.

“As you continue to progress through the journey, the legacy is something you think about,” Brown said. “A legacy is something that stands out, and the best legacy you can leave is a win.”

For Brown, that legacy extends beyond the basketball court.

“Besides winning, (the legacy) is how you impacted the community,” Brown said. “Two things that I’m proud of, being able to win basketball games, winning championships – hopefully more – and being able to impact my community in a positive way. That’s what you invest in. That’s what I invest in as a player, that’s my investment as a Boston Celtic and as a member of my family.”

In his second trip to the Finals, Brown won the 2024 NBA Finals MVP award as he defeated the Mavericks 4-1 to win his first title.