Jaylen Brown passed Luka Doncic in the top 3

Jailen Brown has been one of the league’s most vocal players off the field this season when it comes to standing up for himself, and he backs up his words with high-level play. The Boston Celtics star is the clear No. 1 option this season with Jayson Tatum recovering from an Achilles tear and Brown has been sensational. He’s been playing at an MVP level lately, and the rest of the NBA is starting to take notice.

“I have a lot of respect for Jaylen,” Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan recently said of the Celtics star. “He’s obviously playing at, probably, an MVP level, at least when it comes down to it.”

Even four-time NBA champion Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors is confused why more people aren’t talking about it Brown is in the top three in the MVP race right now, claiming to put his name in the hat to be the best player in the world.

Well, Brown is now in the top three in the MVP race, having exceeded expectations by a mile this season and has the Celtics in position to compete in the Eastern Conference despite the absence of Tatum, who is considered a top-10 talent in the league year after year.

As for Brown, he knows what he’s capable of doing, and his goal is to prove to everyone that he is one of the best players in the world.

“I believe I’m the best two-way player in the world,” Brown told reporters after scoring 50 points against Kawhi Leonard and the LA Clippers recently. “I just wanted to go out there and show it.”

It’s time to start giving Brown more respect, and that’s why he’s moved into the top three of the latest NBA MVP rankings.

Previous 2023-24 NBA MVP Rankings: Sunday 11 | 10th week | 9th week | 8th week | week 7 | 6th week | 5th week | 4th week | 3rd week | 2nd week | 1st week

Previous rank: #1

2025-26 stats: 32 games, 29.6 points, 12.2 rebounds, 11.0 assists, 1.4 steals, 60.5 FG%, 43.5 3P%

Nikola Jokić has not played since December 29 hyperextended his left knee and suffered a bone bruise. While the Denver Nuggets going 4-3 and getting solid wins without Jokic doesn’t help the three-time MVP’s case to win the award again this season, his numbers are still the best in the league.

Not only is Jokic averaging just under 30 points per game, but he also has a triple-double for the season and leads the league in both rebounds and assists. To achieve this as a center and average a triple-double all year is unheard of.

Whether or not Jokic remains eligible for the MVP award is the big question surrounding this ranking and the race for the award as a whole. Jokic can only miss 10 more games to qualify for end-of-season awards and recognition.

Previous rank: #2

2025-26 Stats: 38 games, 31.9 points, 6.4 assists, 4.5 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 54.7 FG%, 39.6 3P%

Although the Oklahoma City Thunder lost 124-97 at home to the Charlotte Hornets last Monday, their worst loss of the season, Shai Giljus-Alexander managed to score 21 points and keep his historic 20-point streak going.

Gilgeous-Alexander has now scored at least 20 points in 110 games, closing in on Wilt Chamberlain’s record of 126 consecutive 20-plus point games. The reigning NBA MVP has a really strong chance to break this record, which would add to his resume this season.

Shai has been incredible this season, and his Thunder continue to sit atop the NBA standings. A win and an MVP-like performance against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs on January 13th would be a statement for Gilgeous-Alexander.

3. Jaylen Brown – Boston Celtics

Previous rank: #4

2025/26 stats: 36 games, 29.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.0 steals, 49.5 FG%, 37.6 3P%

It might just be brown the most disrespected All-Star and All-NBA player in NBA history. After winning Finals MVP in 2024 and being the one to lead the Celtics to a championship and Tatum struggling in the playoffs, all the “can he step up” talk around Brown should have ended.

Now that he continues to elevate his game to unprecedented levels in Boston and keep this organization in the title mix, no one can doubt Brown anymore.

Not only is Brown sixth in scoring this season, but he also contributes as a rebounder, contributes as a passer with a career-high 5.0 assists per game, and has proven himself to be arguably the best wing defender in the NBA.

That he scores at the rate he does and pulls off the toughest defensive assignments every night speaks volumes for Brown’s demeanor and his status in the MVP race. In terms of scoring, he has dropped at least 25 points in 14 of his last 16 games.

Previous rank: #3

2025-26 Stats: 29 games, 33.3 points, 8.8 assists, 8.0 rebounds, 1.6 steals, 45.8 FG%, 32.3 3P%

Luka Doncic still leads the NBA by a significant 1.4 points per game over Gilgeous-Alexander, and is tied for fourth in triple-doubles (4) this year behind Jokic (16), Jalen Johnson (7) and Josh Giddy (7).

The Los Angeles Lakers superstar is the only player in the league averaging at least 30 points, eight rebounds and eight assists per game this season.

Doncic’s biggest problem, aside from the Lakers’ struggles as a whole, is that he’s averaging 4.5 turnovers per game in the league and had 15 turnovers in three games last week. That’s not a recipe for league MVP.

Previous rank: #5

2025-26 stats: 32 games, 29.3 points, 6.5 assists, 3.3 rebounds, 47.5 FG%, 38.0 3P%

Although it is The New York Knicks have struggled of lateJalen Brunson did everything possible to try to push his team to wins. Since Christmas, Brunson has averaged 28.4 points and 5.6 assists per game while shooting 47.7 percent from the floor and 42.5 percent from 3-point range.

While his shooting numbers are up compared to his season average, Brunson’s scoring and overall efficiency are down slightly as the Knicks struggle.

Still, New York is near the top of the Eastern Conference standings, and Brunson has his fingerprints all over the Knicks’ success this season.

It’s just missing the cut

6. Cade Cunningham – Detroit Pistons (ranked #6 last week)

7. Victor Wembanyama – San Antonio Spurs (7th place last week)*

8. Giannis Antetokounmpo – Milwaukee Bucks (ranked 8th last week)*

9. Anthony Edwards – Minnesota Timberwolves (No. 9 last week)

10. Devin Booker – Phoenix Suns (unranked last week)

*A signal player is not expected to meet the minimum 65 game threshold for awards/recognition.