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[Saba Sports News] The Boston Celtics secured their 18th NBA championship on Monday night with a 106-88 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. Brown was awarded the Finals MVP trophy, becoming the sixth player in Celtics history to earn the honor. The NBA later revealed that Brown received seven out of 11 media votes, while teammate Jayson Tatum earned four. Malika Andrews, Doris Burke, PJ Carlesimo, and Gary Washburn voted for Tatum, while the rest chose Brown.
Throughout the series, it was a close race between Brown and Tatum. Brown, who averaged 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game, led with his energetic play, clutch moments, and strong defense against Dallas star Luka Doncic. Tatum, who averaged 22.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game, was Boston’s primary playmaker and had a standout 31-8-11 performance in Game 5. However, Tatum’s inconsistency and slightly lower efficiency likely influenced the final vote.
A 7-4 vote indicates it wasn’t just one swing vote that determined the Finals MVP. Brown, who also won the Eastern Conference Finals MVP, capped off a successful season after signing the largest contract in league history. Despite some criticism, he proved his worth. Tatum, unfazed by the MVP outcome, also enjoyed his moment with memorable post-championship celebrations.