Former Oregon Men's Basketball's Payton Pritchard Questions Jaylen Brown's All-NBA Snub

Former Oregon Duck Men's Basketball star and current Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard weighed in on teammate Jalen Brown's exclusion from the 2023-24 All-NBA Teams ahead of game two of the Celtics-Pacers Playoff series.

Mar 27, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka talks with Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) and guard Jaylen Brown (7) during the second half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports / Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

When the NBA announced the 2023-24 All-NBA teams Wednesday, the list included talented NBA stars such as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards, and Jayson Tatum. Noticeably missing was Celtics guard Jaylen Brown.

“JB, that was a snub for sure” Celtics guard and former Duck Payton Pritchard told reporters at Boston's shootaround ahead of game 2 of the Celtics series against Indiana Pacers.  

Brown, who was named All-NBA Second Team last season, earned just 50 voting points. That is 20 behind the athlete with the least amount of voting points, the Phoenix Suns' Devin Booker.  

The complete voting results for the 2023-24 Kia All-NBA Team: pic.twitter.com/KrG4Fjc9pW

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) May 22, 2024

Following his All-NBA selection last season, Brown raised the bar for himself, landing a veteran super max extension. A selection this season could have earned brown up to $2.2 million in a contractual bonus. 

“JB’s been terrific all year,” Pritchard said. “Two-way player, so he definitely deserves to be on there.” 

May 23, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) dribbles the ball against Indiana Pacers guard Ben Sheppard (26) in the first half during game two of the eastern conference finals for the 2024 NBA playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports / David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Brown averages 23.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, a career high of 3.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game, matching his personal best. The Celtics guard is shooting 54.4 percent from the field in the post season, his overall performance throughout the season is a key reason for the Celtics success.  

The Celtics finsihed the regular season with the best record in the NBA at 64-18, a full 14 games the New York Knicks who finished second in the East. The boys from Boston are also experiencing success in the post season as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, winning their first playoff series 4-1 against the Miami Heat, their second playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers 4-1, and are up 2-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers.  

“I don't understand how you can be the No. 1 team by a wide margin and only have one guy on that,” Pritchard said.

May 23, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) reacts after a play against the Indiana Pacers in the second half during game two of the eastern conference finals for the 2024 NBA playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports / David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Despite teammates like Pritchard sticking up for Brown and expressing their frustration on Brown's exclusion from the All-NBA selections, Brown is only focused on what lies ahead.  

“We’re two games from the finals so I don't have the time to give a f-ck,” Brown said.

Game three of the Celtics’ series against the Pacers is Saturday May 25. Tune in to ABC at 5:30 to watch former Oregon Duck Payton Pritchard and Jaylen Brown as they try to move another game closer to the NBA Finals.