The 50 greatest NBA players of the 2020s (so far), ranked

8) Jaylen Brown

Although he has been considered to be a side kick rather than a full-blown star, Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown permanently changed that narrative. He helped the Celtics to a dominant 64-18 record in 2023-24 and win their 18th championship, with him being named Finals MVP. That award alone carries major weight in these rankings but it is only one of an increasingly impressive list of accomplishments.

Despite playing in the shadow of Jayson Tatum, Brown has put up strong numbers, averaging 23.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game from 2019–20 to 2023–24. That resulted in three all-star appearances in the last five seasons and at 27 and 1/2 at the halfway point of the decade, he could make at least three more all-star teams and win another championship or even two.

After all, the Celtics are one of the most star-studded and deepest teams in the NBA and could dominate the next five years in much the same way the Golden State Warriors did during the late 2010s, with Brown helping to lead the charge. That accomplishment may not be out of reach and if he can win multiple championships, then he could make a push for being one of the five best players of the 2020s.