For the first time in the history of the NBA, the Finals will host the Mavericks and Celtics. The series will have point guard Kyrie Irving compete against his old team, whose fans continue to place him as a controversial figure, even five years since his exit. Securing the Championship ring won’t be an easy task, especially when Boston possesses a point guard like Jaylen Brown. After all, it was 76ers Head Coach Doc Rivers who said that Brown is “great in-between game, great all the way to the basket, great 3s. When you have all three of those things, you’re one of the better offensive players in the league, and he is!”

Throughout the regular season, Kyrie Irving had been instrumental in helping lead scorer Luka Doncic establish a 50-win record for the Mavs. His prowess continued to be on display during the playoffs as well. However, it still hasn’t managed to come close to what Jaylen Brown has accomplished as the Celtics’ second-highest average scorer.

Kyrie Irving Stats

Out of Dallas’ 82 regular season games, Kyrie Irving was available for 58 of them. He was absent for over 18 games between December and February because of a bruised heel and a sprained thumb. The regular season saw the point guard securing an average score of 25.6 points, 5 rebounds, and 5.2 assists. His shooting skills saw a slight improvement since the last few seasons, with his field goals stat going up to 9.7-19.5 (49.7%), his three-pointers at 3.0-7.3 (41.1%), and his free throws at 3.3-3.6 (90.5%).

Irving’s first full season with the Mavericks saw the player establishing some records as well. Back in March, during a game against the Denver Nuggets, he shot a record 21-foot floater. It’s now recognized as the longest game-winning hook shot in history. A month later, he would score a season-high 48 points. According to several news outlets like the New York Times, The Athletic, and Sporting News, Kai’s regular season run was a “renaissance”, a “revival”, and a “redemption” after a few trouble-filled years.

Upon reaching the playoffs, his performance saw a drop. His average score now stands at 22.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 5.2 assists. This occurred despite his average playing minutes increasing from 35 to 40.2. However, his shooting stats have remained consistent. His field goals stand at 8.5-17.6 (48.5%), his three-pointers at 2.6-6.3 (42.1%), and his free throws at 3.1-3.8 (82.8%).

Jaylen Brown Stats

In comparison to Irving’s 58, Jaylen Brown started 70 games for Boston. JB secured an average score of 23 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists. He also shot his highest numbers with 9-17.9 (49.9%) field goals in the regular season. It was accompanied by 2.1-5.9 (35.4%) three-pointers and 3.0-4.3 (70.3%) free throws.

So, Jaylen Brown was the Cs’ second-highest scorer but his stats were not too much better than his Mavs rival. However, JB recorded a triple-double in a matchup, a feat that Kai has yet to achieve. Interestingly, his stats saw a slight improvement in the later stages of the tournament. Here’s how.

Within 14 playoff games, Brown has secured an average score of 25 points, more than that of Kyrie. Alongside 6.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists. The 27-year-old shot 9.9-18.2 (54.1%) field goals, 2-5.4 (36.8%) three-pointers, and 3.3-5.2 free throws (63%) free throws. His performance against the Pacers in the ECFs, when he averaged 29.8 ppg., was a major factor that helped the Celtics secure a clean sweep. He was awarded the MVP title after the series for 1st time in his 8-year career.

So, when comparing this with what Kyrie Irving scored in his 17 recent appearances, Jaylen Brown does hold a slight advantage. Who will you be rooting for in the NBA Finals? Let us know in the comments down below.

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