Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd set the internet on fire before the 2024 NBA Finals when he said that Jaylen Brown is the best player on the Boston Celtics. Jayson Tatum had always been portrayed as the No. 1 option on the team but Kidd’s admission on Brown became very controversial. He reflected on those comments months later, saying he was proven right with how awards voting shook out.
“He was playing the best I think at the time. Some took it as I was trying to start something. But he had just won the Eastern Conference MVP, and then he ended up winning MVP of the Finals, so I don’t know if I was wrong.”
Kidd believes the media made too much out of his quote to imply he wanted to start a feud between Brown and Tatum when he just wanted to credit Brown for playing the best basketball of his career.
“But as we know, the media sometimes can take it as I was trying to start something between Jayson and Jaylen, but it wasn’t that. I was just making the comment that Jaylen is playing at a high level. So it wasn’t that I was starting anything. But Jaylen was playing his best basketball at the right time. I made that comment and some took it as I was trying to start something, but I wasn’t.”
The Tatum-Brown duo has taken multiple hits over the summer despite just sealing an NBA Championship win. After the awkwardness of Brown beating Tatum out for two Playoff MVP awards, Tatum represented Team USA with two of his other Celtics teammates while Brown was not selected and publicly criticized the decision.
Tatum wouldn’t be much better off by being on the Olympic team, as he was given two DNPs that further undermined his status as a star. Both players have a lot to prove next season, as the Celtics hope to retain their NBA Championship.
Tatum averaged 22.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 7.2 assists on 38.8% from the field in the Finals against the Mavericks while Finals MVP Brown put up 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.0 assists on 44.0% from the field.
Jason Kidd Wants To Rematch The Celtics
During the interview where he clarified his comments about Brown, Kidd made his desire for the Mavericks to rematch with the Celtics in the 2025 NBA Finals clear.
“You gotta go through Boston. They won it this past season and they’re built to compete for another one. You gotta beat the defending champs. I’m happy they’re in the East. Hopefully, we can see them again, but it’s going to be a tough season because there are so many talented teams. Hopefully, we’re one of the teams where if Boston gets there, we can see them again.”
Kidd will have a chance at revenge before that, with the first regular season meeting in 2025-25 coming on January 25 during NBA Rivals Week, hosted by the Mavs. The reverse fixture for the two teams in opposing conferences will be on February 6, the same day as the NBA Trade Deadline.
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