Former Cavs forward calls Jaylen Brown most overlooked superstar in NBA

The Boston Celtics’ latest journey to the NBA Finals has likely continued to raise the profiles of several of their top players, but former Cleveland Cavaliers forward Lamar Stevens said Celtics star Jaylen Brown is the most overlooked superstar in the league.

Stevens posted his reaction on social media to comments from Brown that he may never get the accolades or recognition he believes he deserves.

“Various reasons I feel like I don’t get the credit or respect that I have earned,” Brown said. “And I just, I’m at the point in my life where just I don’t give a f—, y’know? I could, I may never get it, and I’m okay with that. I am who I am. I do what I do. And I believe in what I believe in. So, the ones who wit’ me, let’s rock and roll, and the ones who aren’t can kiss my a–.”

Brown has helped Boston reach the 2024 NBA Finals, where the Celtics will face the Dallas Mavericks in the best-of-seven series that begins on Thursday. Another strong run through the playoffs is following a spectacular regular season where the Celtics posted a 64-18 record and finished atop the Eastern Conference 14 games ahead of the New York Knicks and 16 games ahead of the fourth-place Cavaliers.

In his eighth season in the NBA — all with the Celtics — Brown contributed mightily by averaging 23.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game in 70 regular season appearances. In the 2024 NBA Playoffs, the 27-year-old is averaging 25.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists per contest as Boston has lost only twice and therefore needed just 14 games to reach the NBA Finals.

Stevens played his first three NBA seasons for the Cavaliers before winding up with the Celtics this season and making 19 appearances for them before being traded to the Memphis Grizzlies in February.

Though Brown was named to the NBA All-Star Game for a second straight season, he was not named to any of the 2023-24 All-NBA teams despite being a Second Team selection for the 2022-23 campaign.

The snub — in addition to his absence from the league’s All-Defensive teams as well — drew some attention and comments from teammates, raising the idea that Brown and the Celtics may become even more motivated to win an elusive NBA championship.

This is Brown’s second trip to the league’s championship round after the Celtics lost to the Golden State Warriors in the 2022 NBA Finals. Boston has advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals six times since Brown’s debut in the 2016-17 season.

Finally capturing a ring would go a long way toward perhaps giving Brown recognition he might deserve as a superstar.