Celtics forward Jaylen Brown was named second-team All-NBA on Sunday. With Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet gone this season, and Jayson Tatum sidelined for the first 62 games because of an Achilles injury, Brown helped guide Boston to an unlikely 56-win season anyway, showing he is capable of being a true No. 1 option.
The five-time All-Star averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game — all career highs — while shooting 47.7 percent from the field.
When stars such as Stephen Curry, Anthony Edwards, Luka Doncic, and Cade Cunningham failed to reach the 65-game threshold required for postseason honors, Brown appeared to be a lock for First Team All-NBA for the first time in his career.
But a few days after the regular season concluded, the NBA announced that Doncic and Cunningham would be eligible for postseason awards due to an “extraordinary circumstances” clause. Doncic played in 64 qualifying games (minimum of 20 minutes) but missed two due to the birth of his child overseas. Cunningham played in 64 but missed 11 after suffering a collapsed lung.
Get Starting Point
Both players received first-team honors Sunday, along with Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Spurs center Victor Wembanyama, and Nuggets center Nikola Jokic.
Voting was determined by a 100-member media panel, with first-team votes worth five points, second-team votes worth three, and third-team votes worth one.
Cunningham narrowly edged out Brown for the final slot. He received 60 first-team votes and 38 second-team votes and was left off two ballots, giving him 414 total points.
Brown was chosen for the first team on 44 ballots, the second team on 54, and the third team on two, for 384 total points. Brown was also named second-team All-NBA after the 2022-23 season.
During his Twitch stream Sunday night, Brown said he was not surprised to be passed over for first team honors.
“I’m not the most-liked, [by] fans or media,” he said. “Sometimes I use my platform a little controversial, so I’m surprised I’m on any team, let alone first or second … I’m grateful for everything. I’m not surprised about nothing.”
Brown, who is currently on a five-year supermax contract that runs through the 2028-29 season, is eligible for a two-year, $144 million extension in July.
Celtics guard Derrick White received three third-team All-NBA votes.
Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @adamhimmelsbach.
