Getty Image / Maddie Malhotra
Brad Stevens has excelled college head coach, NBA head coach, and NBA executive. Now, the Celtics’ President of Basketball Operation is looking for his first championship at the Division I or NBA level, as the Celtics are just two wins away from the title after beating Dallas Sunday night to go up 2-0.
Just how good has Stevens been in his role with Boston, first as a coach from 2013-2021 and now as their top executive? Former Golden State Warriors counterpart and current ESPN analyst Bob Myers wants to name Brad Stevens the MVP of the NBA Finals!
Myers made the comments after the Celtics won Game 2, 105-98.
On the ESPN on ABC postgame show, which does not include Stephen A. Smith, Bob Myers says that Brad Stevens would be his current #NBAFinals MVP. 🏀🎙️ pic.twitter.com/kJnnhbMSyZ
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 10, 2024
Myers argued that it should go to Stevens because he has truly put together a great team in Boston, one that a number of different players on any given night can carry.
That’s been the case so far in the 2024 NBA Finals against the Mavs. Their best player, Jayson Tatum, has not shot the ball well through two games. He’s just 12-38, though he is playing well in other facets.
But, that hasn’t mattered. Their second-best player, Jaylen Brown, has been fine, but it’s not like he’s been lights-out either. But, guys like Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, and Derrick White have all taken starring roles at some point through the first two games. Those three players are guys that Stevens acquired as POBO. Porzingis and Holiday were both acquired last offseason in moves that look to be genius.
The best move Brad Stevens has made might be the trade for Derrick White. The Celtics gave up basically nothing of note for White in February of 2022. All he’s done is become one of the league’s best role players, a stud on defense and a reliable scorer on offense.
Their bench is great, too, and the pieces fit so well together. I get where Bob Myers is coming from, because Stevens is likely the most valuable person in that organization.
Of course, they won’t actually select Brad Stevens as NBA Finals MVP. Right now, sportsbooks have it as pretty much a dead heat between Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, assuming the Celtics win.
Game 3 is in Dallas on Wednesday evening.