Jaylen Brown criticises NBA awards voting and media bias

Philadelphia 76ers star Jaylen Brown has launched a fierce criticism of the NBA’s individual awards system, arguing that media voting is often influenced by personal favourites, popular narratives and marketing rather than players’ performances on the court.

Speaking on The Young Man and the Three podcast, the 29-year-old questioned the subjectivity involved in deciding who deserves honours such as the Most Valuable Player award. Brown believes voters sometimes favour players who fit the stories they want to promote, rather than applying consistent criteria.

“Who’s the best player in the world, or who’s the MVP this year? All these different types of things – it’s subjective,” Brown said. He also described the process as marketing-driven, arguing that constantly chasing recognition based on changing public narratives can leave players dissatisfied.

Brown went further in his criticism, questioning the credibility of the awards themselves. “Somebody made up an award and made up a fake committee to give people these awards based upon what criteria nobody actually really knows,” he said. He added that individual honours should not determine a player’s sense of personal fulfilment.

The five-time NBA All-Star stressed that his priorities lie with his teammates and his contribution to the team’s success. He said he focuses on whether he has been a good leader, responded properly to adversity and made sacrifices to help his team win, rather than worrying about external recognition.

Brown’s comments are notable given his own achievements. He was named NBA Finals MVP in 2024 after helping the Boston Celtics win the championship. Following his move to Philadelphia during the 2026 offseason, he has made a strong start with the 76ers, averaging 20.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists across his first five games as the team opened the season with a 4-1 record.