Overview
- The NBA named Jalen Brunson the Eastern Conference Player of the Month for December and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander the Western Conference winner.
- Brunson averaged 30.6 points and 7.1 assists on 47.5% shooting (40.5% from three) as New York went 10–4 in December, a stretch that included his NBA Cup MVP; it is his third career monthly honor.
- Jaylen Brown led the NBA in December scoring at 31.7 points with 6.5 rebounds and 5.4 assists on 53.8% shooting and 42.6% from three, and he tied Larry Bird’s franchise mark with nine straight 30-point games while Boston went 9–3.
- Brown reacted by posting “Smh” on X and said on Twitch that neither Brunson nor Gilgeous-Alexander had a better month than he did.
- Celtics voices, including Paul Pierce, questioned the selection and argued Brown was overlooked, as some analysts pointed to Brunson’s Cup performance and greater December availability as decisive factors.