Sun Jan 04 05:50:00 UTC 2026: News Article:

Jaylen Brown Voices Displeasure Over Player of the Month Snub, Calls Out NBA Rubric

Boston, MA – Celtics star Jaylen Brown expressed his strong disagreement with the NBA’s decision to award the Eastern Conference Player of the Month for December to New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson.

Brown took to social media and his Twitch channel on Friday, shortly after the announcement, to voice his frustration. “Smh,” Brown wrote on social media, then elaborated on his Twitch stream, stating, “No disrespect… but neither one of them [Brunson or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Western Conference winner] had a better month than I had.”

While acknowledging the talent of both players, Brown questioned the criteria used for selecting the award, asking, “What’s the rubric, what’s the criteria behind [picking the award]? Somebody in the back just picking their favorites? Ain’t no rubric.” He further revealed he has expressed these concerns to the NBA Players’ Association.

Statistically, Brown had a stellar month, leading the league with 31.7 points per game, along with 6.4 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and a combined 1.8 blocks and steals. He also boasted higher shooting percentages than Brunson, shooting 53.8 percent from the field and 42.6 percent from distance. Brunson averaged 30.6 points, 7.1 assists, and 3.3 rebounds while leading the Knicks to a 10-4 record.

Adding to Brown’s case, his performance helped propel the Celtics up the Eastern Conference standings, posting a 9-3 record in December. He also matched a Celtics franchise record held by Larry Bird, scoring 30+ points in nine consecutive games.

Former Celtics legend Paul Pierce also weighed in, posting on X, “And can we put Jalen Brown in the MVP Talk this is just ridiculous how did he not get POTM More Celtic hate but we use to it.”

Beyond the Player of the Month snub, Brown addressed preseason predictions that the Celtics would tank this season. “They said we were supposed to tank, that we was supposed to be this, we was supposed to be that. Keep that same energy,” Brown stated, highlighting the team’s current No. 3 standing in the East with a 21-12 record. He expressed frustration over the lack of recognition for the team’s success given low expectations.

Despite the perceived slight, Brown emphasized a forward-looking perspective, stating, “We’re going to keep winning games. We’re going to keep getting better. We’re going to keep being humble. We’re going to keep working on the details.” The Celtics are set to face the Clippers on Saturday.

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