NEW YORK, Jan. 3, 2026 — The NBA’s December awards have been announced, and while the hardware is heading to New York, the heat is coming from Boston.
The NBA named New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson the Eastern Conference Player of the Month for December 2025, citing his stellar leadership and the Knicks’ championship run in the NBA Cup. (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder took home Western Conference honors).
But Celtics star Jaylen Brown isn’t letting the decision slide quietly. After a month where he single-handedly kept Boston afloat in Jayson Tatum’s absence, Brown took to his Twitch stream to voice a respectful but firm disagreement with the league’s voters.
The Tale of the Tape
The debate is razor-thin, pitting winning impact against raw statistical dominance.
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The Winner (Brunson): The Knicks captain averaged 30.2 points, 7.1 assists, and 3.3 rebounds in December. Crucially, his resume includes lifting the NBA Cup trophy after defeating the San Antonio Spurs in Las Vegas—a winning bias that likely tipped the scales in his favor.
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The Snub (Brown): With Tatum sidelined, Brown went nuclear. He averaged a scorching 31.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 5.4 assists, leading the Celtics to an impressive 9-3 record.
Brown: Neither One of Them Had a Better Month
While Brunson’s NBA Cup victory provided the narrative edge, Brown believes his production was unmatched.
I’m not gonna say too much, but I’m gonna be honest, Brown said during a livestream following the announcement. No disrespect, no diss to Shai or Brunson. But neither one of them had a better month than I had. But, it’s all good, those are good players.
It’s a classic NBA conflict: Does the award go to the best stats on a winning team (Brown), or the face of the month’s biggest winning moment (Brunson)?
The Tatum Void Factor
Brown’s frustration is valid. Stepping up as the primary option for a contender is the hardest task in basketball, and Brown thrived under the pressure. The Celtics didn’t just survive without their MVP candidate; they flourished, largely due to Brown’s two-way dominance (1.2 steals per game).
For Brunson, the award is another jewel in a season that is shaping up to be his best yet. But for Brown, it’s fuel. As the Celtics push for the top seed in the East, expect the Finals MVP to play with an even bigger chip on his shoulder when these two rivals inevitably clash again.
