Mavericks coach Jason Kidd caused quite a stir with his recent comments that seemed to be a diss towards Jayson Tatum.
Between Games 1 and 2 of the Finals, Kidd called Jaylen Brown the Celtics’ “best player.”
The NBA world came for Kidd after his comments, with many claiming the Dallas legend was playing mind games.
C’s center Al Horford called Kidd “sneaky” and said, “I see what he’s doing”.
Since then, Kidd has clarified his comments and explained that there wasn’t any malice behind them.
“My comment about Jaylen Brown is from watching tape, and [after] watching Game 1, I thought, again, he was the best player. Also, a Cal alum, so we have ties. And so, I said that,” Kidd said on Sirius XM NBA Radio.
“Everybody thought it was mental warfare. That’s not mental warfare, that was just my opinion. But if it was to be true, then dang, I didn’t mean to cause such a stir.”
Of course, Kidd was also asked about his comments by other outlets and he explained he meant no ill and even Boston guard Jrue Holiday agreed with him.
“It wasn’t mind games,” Kidd told Amick. “But for whatever reason, everybody took it that way. Everybody was speculating, and no one really asked me that.
“My whole thing was that, watching the Eastern Conference (playoffs), like, he has been (the Celtics’ best player). No one ever said I was wrong. Even their player said I wasn’t lying.”
After Kidd’s comments, Holiday said, “”I don’t think he’s lying,” Holiday said Saturday on SiriusXM NBA Radio. “I think JB, he’s been aggressive in every single way. He’s been getting to the paint, getting to the free-throw line, also making plays for other people. And then, he’s guarding Luka, he’s guarding their best player.”