Jason Kidd on Jaylen Brown being Celtics best player: 'That wasn't mental warfare that was just my opinion'

Sirius XM NBA @SiriusXMNBA
“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 – 8:12 PM

Sirius XM NBA @SiriusXMNBA
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📱Call the Show: 855-NBA-Jump (855-622-5867) pic.twitter.com/Um7MlNsKiC – 4:58 PM

Ball Don’t Lie @Balldontlie
Jaylen Brown is cool, calm & collected with a 2-0 lead 😎 pic.twitter.com/wp3cERRMAG – 3:35 PM

Jay King @ByJayKing
Jason Kidd: “Holiday is very comfortable in the dunker. He plays as a big.”
Stressed that Holiday isn’t just a scorer down there, but also a playmaker. That’s been a big theme from the first two games, how the Celtics guards have operated down low, forcing Dallas’ guards to be… – 1:41 PM

Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe
Jason Kidd calls Jayson Tatum, “one of the best players in the world.” #Celtics #Mavericks #NBAFinals – 1:37 PM

Ben Golliver @BenGolliver
Mavericks’ Jason Kidd on Celtics’ Jayson Tatum: “He’s one of the best players in the world.” – 1:36 PM

Mike Curtis @MikeACurtis2
New story: Jason Kidd said the #Mavs need someone outside of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving to step up on the offensive end.
Assuming Irving returns to form in Game 3, who’s it going to be? dallasnews.com/sports/maveric… – 12:29 PM

Cameron Tabatabaie @CTabatabaie
Two games in and Jaylen Brown is the favorite to win Finals MVP
(Via @BetOnline_ag) pic.twitter.com/yQjOcv6Tik – 1:13 PM

Jay King @ByJayKing
The Celtics’ usual superpower turned against them. They needed to win without their normal outside shooting. They found a way.
Then, afterward, Jaylen Brown and Derrick White debated who deserved the game-saving block.
My story from Game 2: nytimes.com/athletic/55530… – 11:10 AM

John Hollinger @johnhollinger
The accidental kernel of truth in Jason Kidd’s off day comment wasn’t that Jayson Tatum wasn’t Boston’s best player … it’s that he didn’t need to be.
nytimes.com/athletic/55529… – 9:10 AM

Sam Amick @sam_amick
On Jrue Holiday, his reflections on the Bucks backstory that brought him to Boston, and the Game 2 Finals outing where he – not Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum – was the best Celtics player of them all.
Convos with Holiday and coach Joe Mazzulla, at @TheAthletic – 8:57 AM

Dave Early @DavidEarly
What if Jason Kidd wasn’t playing mind games and what if they DID work? 🧘🏻‍ – 8:52 AM

John Hollinger @johnhollinger
New for @TheAthleticNBA
– Jason Kidd had to try goading the Celtics into beating themselves … because his Mavericks can’t beat them. nytimes.com/athletic/55529… – 8:36 AM

Brian Robb @BrianTRobb
New: While Jason Kidd is playing mind games off the floor, a subtle tweak to the Celtics offense by Joe Mazzulla has helped to take away the Mavericks’ biggest postseason strength, leading to a 2-0 series lead: masslive.com/celtics/2024/0… – 8:35 AM

John Karalis @John_Karalis
New on BSJ: Jason Kidd tried a mind trick. It backfired and became the most unselfish night two superstars could have
bostonsportsjournal.com/2024/06/10/kar… – 4:34 AM

Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
Jason Kidd tried to drive a wedge between Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Their response?
One of their best playmaking games together of their careers. Now they’re 2 wins away from being champions.
“How they work together is something that is sacred and something that can’t – 3:14 AM

Steve Bulpett @SteveBHoop
If Jason Kidd called the Sultan of Stat the best numbers/information guy in the league, no one would bat an eye.
@DickLipe with the goods on Jrue Holiday, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Payton Pritchard and a Game 2 Finals victory for the Celtics: pic.twitter.com/aCHiKZcVV7 – 2:50 AM

Cameron Tabatabaie @CTabatabaie
Jrue Holiday’s full comments on his respect and admiration for Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown tonight pic.twitter.com/9cKPDdtGRL – 1:13 AM

Joe Vardon @joevardon
Luka is hurting. Kyrie is struggling. And Jason Kidd’s mind game didn’t work. All are ingredients in a recipe for the Dallas Mavericks’ 2-0 deficit at the NBA Finals, @TheAthleticNBA nytimes.com/athletic/55528… – 11:56 PM

Brian Robb @BrianTRobb
New: Jaylen Brown had the perfect comparison for Payton Pritchard’s clutch 3-point heave after the Celtics Game 2 win masslive.com/celtics/2024/0… – 11:56 PM

Austin Burton @AmaarBurton
NBA Finals MVP power rankings after Game 2:
1. Jaylen Brown
2. Jayson Tatum
3. Luka Doncic 🐎
4. Kristaps Porzingis
5. Jrue Holiday pic.twitter.com/Qk4s5ZXrkb – 11:54 PM

Jay King @ByJayKing
Jaylen Brown said he heard Payton Pritchard checked himself into the game for his third-quarter buzzer beater. – 11:39 PM

Dave McMenamin @mcten
Jaylen Brown on Payton Pritchard’s 3Q buzzer beater: “That was incredible and I heard he checked himself into the game, too.” – 11:38 PM

Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
Jaylen Brown on the Payton Pritchard buzzer beater: “Man, that was incredible. I heard he checked himself in the game too. He’s been hitting those shots all season long if anybody’s been paying attention to it.” – 11:37 PM

Jay King @ByJayKing
Jaylen Brown said the Celtics need to be better defensively. He thought they had a lot of miscommunications tonight that they didn’t have in Game 1. Said they need to be more crisp moving forward. – 11:37 PM

Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
Jaylen Brown on Jrue Holiday: “He’s brought championship pedigree to our team, so nothing that Jrue says we question.” – 11:36 PM

Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
Jaylen Brown called Jrue Holiday “an example of excellence.” – 11:35 PM

Jay King @ByJayKing
Jaylen Brown: “Jrue has been an example of just excellence.”
Brown said not many players could have adapted like Holiday did this season. – 11:33 PM

Souichi Terada @SouichiTerada
Jaylen Brown on Jrue Holiday: “He’s been an example of excellence.” – 11:33 PM

Cameron Tabatabaie @CTabatabaie
Jaylen Brown approves of the fans tonight at TD Garden:
I think the crowd helped us stay in the game pic.twitter.com/zAvdSNqQIe – 11:33 PM

Mike Curtis @MikeACurtis2
Jason Kidd: “We’re positive. Boston held serve and now we have to go home and hold serve.” – 11:11 PM

Ben Rohrbach @brohrbach
Jrue Holiday starts his press conference by saying his comments about the Jaylen Brown vs. Jayson Tatum conversation yesterday were taken out of context. “I do not prefer either one. I prefer both.” – 11:01 PM

Ben Golliver @BenGolliver
Celtics’ Jrue Holiday on Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown: “I don’t prefer one or the other. I prefer both.” – 11:01 PM

Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe
Jrue Holiday clears up his comments praising Jaylen Brown, said did not mean that he favors Jaylen over Jayson. “I do no prefer one or the other. I prefer both.” #Celtics #Mavericks #NBAFinals – 11:01 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Block or Foul?
#Mavs down five with 50.5 left in Game 2 when Derrick White was credited for blocking P.J. Washington’s transition attempt.
Jaylen Brown had his hand on Washington’s back as he elevated to contest. Made layup on other end as #Celtics up 2-0.
Thoughts? #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/fBEngfYunZ – 10:43 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
Most threes this Finals:
8 — Luka Doncic
7 — Derrick White
4 — Jrue Holiday
4 — Jayson Tatum
3 — Al Horford
3 — Jaylen Brown
2 — Kristaps Porzingis
2 — Sam Hauser
Luka is the only Mav with multiple 3-pointers. pic.twitter.com/sJRNurzcm1 – 10:38 PM

Sean Grande @SeanGrandePBP
The Celtics shot 26% from 3
Jayson Tatum went 6-22
Jaylen Brown had 6 turnovers
Celtics got outshot
Celtics got outrebounded.
Celtics lead the NBA Finals 2 games to none.
I guess, they’re battle tested now. – 10:35 PM

Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
Jason Kidd dared the Jays to splinter. They combined for 19 assists tonight, two fewer than Kidd’s entire team. – 10:29 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
Jaylen Brown in Game 2:
21 PTS
7 AST
3 STL
Leading the Celtics in points and steals this Finals. pic.twitter.com/wlbDo3wBk4 – 10:29 PM

Tim MacMahon @espn_macmahon
Mavs are down 0-2 as the series heads to Dallas despite Luka Doncic’s 32-point triple-double.
Mavs made a run to make it interesting, but Jaylen Brown slammed the door with a chasedown block/driving bucket sequence. – 10:27 PM

Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
Doncic misses the three and the Mavs aren’t fouling. Celtics take a 2-0 Finals lead back to Dallas after Tatum and Brown combine for 19 assists. Jason Kidd tried to drive a wedge, but they’ve seen that move plenty of times and didn’t flinch. – 10:27 PM

Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
Dallas had a chance to get this thing down to a one-possession game after a terrific Derrick Jones block on a Jayson Tatum drive.
But Derrick White stopped PJ Washington at the rim with a beautiful block, and Jaylen Brown drives and scores at the other end to push it back to 7. – 10:26 PM

Kevin Chouinard @KLChouinard
The Derrick White chasedown block would have been a lot more impressive if Jaylen Brown wasn’t stiffarming PJ in the back lol. – 10:26 PM

Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
Derrick White knocks down a 3, Jason Kidd calls timeout, and that should just about do it here in Boston. – 10:19 PM

Stephen Noh @StephNoh
Jaylen Brown has gotten so good at playing slow. – 10:18 PM

Steve Bulpett @SteveBHoop
Jrue Holiday playing like HE was the one who took it personally when Jason Kidd said Jaylen Brown was the best player on the Celtics. (23 points on 10-12 shooting and eight rebounds through three quarters.) – 9:55 PM

Souichi Terada @SouichiTerada
Jayson Tatum (10 assists) and Jaylen Brown (7) have 17 of Celtics’ 24 assists tonight. – 9:53 PM

Jay King @ByJayKing
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have not stopped getting into the paint. All game long. All series long. They have not let the Mavericks off the hook at all. – 9:50 PM

Mike Curtis @MikeACurtis2
Luka Doncic and Jaylen Brown are getting chippy with each other. Brown just pushed Doncic in the chest on that last possession. – 9:47 PM

John Hollinger @johnhollinger
Luka Doncic and Jaylen Brown spent that last Dallas trip slap-fighting in the corner while play happened on opposite side the floor. Something to watch …. – 9:46 PM

Peter Vecsey @PeterVecsey1
I suspect it’s almost time for Jason Kidd to spill a cup of soda on the court… – 9:43 PM

Frank Isola @TheFrankIsola
Jason Kidd spent the first 30 seconds of the time out “talking” to referees Tony Brothers & Bill Kennedy. He wasn’t happy. – 9:35 PM

Stephen Noh @StephNoh
Jason Kidd is going to come into Game 3 saying that Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, and Derrick White are Boston’s second, third, and fourth-best players. – 9:27 PM

Mike Curtis @MikeACurtis2
Halftime: #Celtics 54, #Mavs 51.
Doncic: 23 pts, 3 rebs, 3 asts
Irving: 10 pts, 2 asts
Jones: 7 pts, 2 asts, 1 stl
Jrue Holiday: 17 pts, 4 rebs
Jaylen Brown: 8 pts, 2 rebs, 4 asts – 9:14 PM

Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
Halftime: Celtics 54, Mavericks 51
Boston leads despite Jayson Tatum going 2-for-10 from the field (though he has 8 assists) and he & Jaylen Brown being outscored 33-13 by Luka & Kyrie.
Dallas is 5-11 from the FT line and 4-13 from 3. Boston is 13-13 on FTs & 3-15 from 3. – 9:13 PM

Stephen Noh @StephNoh
Here’s what Jason Kidd & co. went to out of timeout. Boston leaves Derrick Jones Jr. wide open again above the break, Derrick White is conceding that shot. He can’t make them pay. pic.twitter.com/XSTbzDAWqW – 9:07 PM

Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
Jayson Tatum has five assists, but is 1-for-8 from the field, and 0-for-3 from deep, in 17 minutes so far tonight.
Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving are currently outscoring Tatum and Jaylen Brown 28-8 and the game is tied with 3:56 to go in the first half. – 9:01 PM

Matt George @MattGeorgeSAC
Jaylen Brown might be the best player on the Celtics… – 8:58 PM

Tas Melas @TasMelas
Jaylen Brown getting past Luka Doncic for two pretty dunks in Games 1 and 2 is gonna be on the social medias pic.twitter.com/GixoJqvQyi – 8:46 PM

Dan Favale @danfavale
jaylen brown, my word pic.twitter.com/LHqGlDckU8 – 8:39 PM

John Karalis @John_Karalis
Jaylen Brown’s defense is off the charts so far in this series – 8:36 PM

Vincent Goodwill @VinceGoodwill
Oh my, Jaylen Brown just woke up the building with that move – 8:24 PM

Stephen Noh @StephNoh
Tatum taking this shot is perfect timing, as Doris says that he won’t be affected by Jason Kidd proclaiming Jaylen Brown as the best player on the Celtics. pic.twitter.com/4cjSXofD0L – 8:24 PM

Sean Grande @SeanGrandePBP
Bad use of a challenge by Jason Kidd.
Foul on Washington upheld, two free throws for Derrick White, Dallas loses its challenge. – 8:21 PM

NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBA
“When adversity come, that’s when we step up!”
—Jaylen Brown mic’d up for Game 2 pic.twitter.com/JbP0UQaneA – 8:20 PM

NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBA
“You’re trying something. Why? Because you’re worried. Because after you saw what you saw in Game 1 … [you] might not have enough to beat these boys.” 😳
@stephenasmith reacts to Jason Kidd’s comments on Jaylen Brown being the best player on the Celtics 👀 pic.twitter.com/lEv5Ifhbk8 – 7:48 PM

Sirius XM NBA @SiriusXMNBA
“It certainly adds some spice to the series”
#Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle responds to the comment Jason Kidd made about Jaylen Brown being the #Celtics best player with @TheFrankIsola and @GregAnthony50. pic.twitter.com/7ZyUwfZl3L – 7:28 PM

Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
Jason Kidd says he continues to be a gametime decision, but Luka Dončić looked pretty good warming up before Game 2 pic.twitter.com/T4vwdLENvj – 6:50 PM

Cameron Tabatabaie @CTabatabaie
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown getting shots up pregame ahead of Game 2 of the NBA finals pic.twitter.com/PMOmS20YY1 – 6:42 PM

Mike Curtis @MikeACurtis2
Jason Kidd says Luka Doncic suffered his chest contusion by either “taking a charge or diving on the floor.” Reiterates that he’s questionable and they’ll see how he feels. – 6:30 PM

Eddie Sefko @ESefko
Luka is questionable. Will go through warmups and see how he feels. Thoracic injury was suffered either taking a charge or diving for a loose ball, per Jason Kidd. – 6:28 PM

Brian Robb @BrianTRobb
Luka Doncic got hurt by diving on the floor or taking a charge according to Jason Kidd. He’s still questionable at this point awaiting how he warms up. – 6:27 PM

Mike Curtis @MikeACurtis2
Jason Kidd says he Luka Doncic suffered his chest contusion by either “taking a charge or diving on the floor.” Reiterates that he’s questionable and they’ll see how he feels. – 6:27 PM

Vincent Goodwill @VinceGoodwill
Jason Kidd says they’ll make a decision on Luka Doncic once he goes through warm ups. Thinks Luka got the injury diving on the floor for a loose ball – 6:27 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
Jaylen Brown in Game 2s this postseason:
30.7 PPG
5.7 RPG
50.7 FG%
How many for JB tonight? statmuse.com/nba/player/jay… – 5:45 PM

Stefan Bondy @SBondyNYDN
Jason Kidd spilled soda on the NBA Finals. I’ve seen this before.
nypost.com/2024/06/09/spo… – 4:14 PM

Melissa Rohlin @melissarohlin
“I’ve been in it for so long I can’t even remember what it is not to be like this. It makes you a little robotic. But I needed to do that to survive.”
Jaylen Brown in a FOX Sports exclusive on how criticism has affected him.
foxsports.com/stories/nba/ja… – 2:53 PM

Melissa Rohlin @melissarohlin
Jaylen Brown in a FOX Sports exclusive:
“Getting moved to the bench, even trade talks, getting booed, whatever the fans were saying, overpaid, overrated. All of that stuff made me who I am today.”
foxsports.com/stories/nba/ja… – 2:40 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
Most career Finals points by an active Celtic:
163 — Jaylen Brown
145 — Jayson Tatum
112 — Jrue Holiday
85 — Al Horford
74 — Derrick White pic.twitter.com/2Y3axy9acs – 2:24 PM

Melissa Rohlin @melissarohlin
Exclusive: Jaylen Brown said all of the criticism he has received transformed his game. But it also changed his personality.
“I needed to do that to survive.”
foxsports.com/stories/nba/ja… – 11:05 AM

Gary Tanguay @Gary_Tanguay
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have truly arrived! With this TEAM attitude nobody will stop this Celtic’s team for years to come. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown appear unfazed by Jason Kidd’s attempts to rattle them bostonglobe.com/2024/06/08/spo… – 10:07 AM

Stefan Bondy @SBondyNYDN
Jason Kidd always found the angles. nypost.com/2024/06/09/spo… – 7:41 AM

Frank Isola @TheFrankIsola
“The Olympic roster isn’t a popularity contest”…..even though Kyrie Irving wasn’t selected.
“The Olympic roster is the 12 best players”….even though Jaylen Brown wasn’t selected. – 7:29 AM

Ball Don’t Lie @Balldontlie
Jrue Holiday backs Jaylen Brown as the best Celtic player pic.twitter.com/T0vEDiKgOd – 10:47 PM