Jaylen Brown became the first UC Berkeley alumnus to win the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player award after scoring 21 points as the Boston Celtics defeated the Jason Kidd-led Dallas Mavericks in five games.
In Monday’s 106-88 title-clinching win, Brown also had eight rebounds, six assists and two steals as Boston made quick work of Dallas.
“I share this with my brothers and my partner in crime Jayson Tatum,” Brown said after the 107th career playoff game he and Tatum have played together — the most for any duo before winning a title.
While presenting Brown with the Bill Russell Award, named after the 11-time NBA champ and former University of San Francisco star, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said “Bill Russell would be so happy.”
Brown picked up the MVP award after averaging 20.8 points, 5-4 rebounds and 5.0 assists during the five games in this year’s Finals. In addition, Brown’s hounding defense consistently made things difficult for Dallas star Luka Doncic.
In Game 1, Brown became the first Celtics player in Finals history to total 22 points, three steals and three blocks. Following a 21-point performance in Game 2, Brown totaled 30 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in Game 3.
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Brown spent one season at Cal before being selected by the Celtics with the third overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. In 34 games, Brown averaged 14.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game, winning Pac-12 Freshman of the Year.
Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics reacts after a play against the Dallas Mavericks during the fourth quarter of Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
