Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd called Jaylen Brown the best player on the Boston Celtics instead of Jayson Tatum after the Mavericks lost Game 1 of the NBA Finals. The intense media response has led Kidd to clarify his comments and explain why he gave Brown such high praise, laughing off people who think it was an attempt at mental warfare.
“I thought my comment about Jaylen Brown was from watching the tape and from watching Game 1. I thought he was the best player. He’s a Cal alum, so we got ties. Everybody thought it was mental warfare. That was not mental warfare, that was just my opinion. I didn’t mean to cause such a stir.”
“Everybody thought my comments [on Jaylen Brown being their best player] was mental warfare”
Mavs head coach, Jason Kidd, clarifies himself with @TermineRadio & @JumpShot8 pic.twitter.com/DrGmhXLXp9
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) June 12, 2024
Kidd’s original comments were extremely complimentary of Brown.
“Well, Jaylen [Brown] is their best player, so just looking at what he does defensively. Picked up Luka full-court, he got to the free-throw line,” said Kidd. “That’s what your best player does. Just understand that he plays both sides, defense and offense at a high rate and he’s been doing that the whole playoffs. When you talk about the Eastern Conference MVP, just continue to pick up where you left off.”
Brown is averaging 21.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists through the first two games of the NBA Finals and would be one of the leading candidates for Finals MVP if the Celtics manage to convert their 2-0 series lead into a Championship.
Kidd will be focused on ensuring none of the Celtics players are in the running for the award, hoping to orchestrate a 2-0 series comeback. He’s done it before with the Mavs against the Phoenix Suns in 2022, who also were a 64-win team that dominated the regular season, so the Mavs still have hope.
Did Kidd Sow Seeds Of Conflict Between Jaylen Brown And Jayson Tatum?
Even if Kidd claims to have unintentionally caused the media furor that followed his comments about Brown being the best player on the Celtics, it started a deeper conversation.
Jayson Tatum has long been considered the Celtics No. 1 option, a billing he’s repeatedly lived up to over his seven-year career. His winning impact has been questioned in recent seasons with multiple instances of Tatum being carried to wins by his teammates in the 2024 Playoffs.
Tatum is 6-0 in games he’s shot under 40% in the 2024 Playoffs, a statistical luxury that no other No. 1 option in the league has because a night like that from them often means their team doesn’t stand a chance to win.
With the consistency of players like Brown, it had already started a conversation amongst fans after Brown deservedly won Eastern Conference Finals MVP over Tatum despite Tatum’s incredible production over the four-game sweep. Kidd just brought that conversation to the forefront with his comments.
Tatum is averaging 17.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 8.5 assists in the NBA Finals, shooting a low 31.6% from the field but is up 2-0. His production will be held against him, but the All-NBA First Team selection has been excellent at everything but scoring the ball.
He’s an impactful defender, their best rebounder, and has unlocked a new level of playmaking in the Finals. He still could win Finals MVP, but needs to put together some legacy-defining Finals performances for that to happen.
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