Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown's All-NBA team snub this season has been a raging debate, especially noting that he was key in guiding his team to the top seed in the Eastern Conference. Instead of sulking, Brown let his game do the talking in the Eastern Conference Finals series against the Indiana Pacers by achieving a Celtics scoring feat that not even the legendary Larry Bird accomplished in his Hall of Fame career.

In Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Pacers, Brown scored 44 points on 50% shooting with seven rebounds, five assists, and three steals in the Celtics' 133-128 win at home.

Jaylen Brown first Celtics player to hit multiple 40-plus point games in Conference Finals career

Boston Celtics Jaylen Brown
Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports

According to StatMuse, the Game 2 scoring performance earned Jaylen Brown the distinction of being the first Celtics player with multiple 40-point games in the Eastern Conference Finals during his career. The other time he scored 40 or more in the Conference finals was on May 21, 2022, where he scored 40 points with nine rebounds in the Celtics' 109-103 loss to the Miami Heat.

Larry Bird, meanwhile, had three 40-plus point playoff games, but they all occurred in the Eastern Conference semifinal round.

Against the Detroit Pistons in the 1985 Conference semifinal, Larry Bird hit 42 points in Game 2 on April 30, while he went off for 43 points in the pivotal Game 5 on May 8. Over two years later on May 10, 1987, Bird fired 42 points in the Celtics' 138-137 double OT win over the Milwaukee Bucks.

Brown's teammates first to address All-NBA snub

Instead of Jaylen Brown himself going off on media for the perceived disrespect, it was his teammates who went up to bat for him in multiple interviews through the media during the Celtics playoffs run.

“It's unreal, 100% got snubbed,” Derrick White said of Brown following their Game 2 win. “He's a big-time presence all year [on] both ends of the court. Big time snub, I don't get it.”

Brown's exclusion from the All-NBA list left Payton Pritchard puzzled, too, saying it was not enough to cite one player as key to a league-leading squad's success.

“That was a snub for sure. I don't understand how you can be the number one team by a wide margin and have one dude on that [All-NBA team selection],” Pritchard said. “JB's been terrific all year, two-way player, so he definitely deserved to be on there.”

Brown links up with injured Kristaps Porzingis ahead of big man's possible Game 4 return

In addition to not publicly minding the All-NBA snub, Brown has been supportive of his teammates behind the scenes. He has been checking up on teammate Kristaps Porzingis, who may be available to play as early as Game 4 in Indianapolis. That would boost the Celtics' playoff chances. Brown made steps for Porzingis to feel included amid the big man's recovery from a calf injury

“Just talking to [Kristaps Porzingis], just checking in with him every day,” Brown said. “Make [it] so he still feels a part of what's going on and he can feel the energy, the enthusiasm because we want him to come back and feel like he hasn't missed a step.”