Mavs' Jason Kidd Hails Celtics' Jayson Tatum as 1 of World's Best After Brown Comment

Four days after calling Jaylen Brown the "best player" on the Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd had even higher praise for Celtics star Jayson Tatum.

"He's one of the best players in the world, so you're trying to just make it tough," Kidd said Tuesday, per NBA TV. "And that's all you can do, is hopefully guard the first move, guard the second move, guard the third move, and contest. And guys are doing that at a high rate, and just trying to make it tough on him."

Kidd had previously singled out Brown in an interview following the Mavericks' Game 1 loss. Tatum later described that comment as an attempt to "divide" the Celtics.

Tatum has totaled 20 assists and 34 points through two games to help push the Celtics to a 2-0 series lead over the Mavericks in the 2024 NBA Finals.

Both he and Brown have averaged more than 24 points per game through 16 playoff contests.

Tatum hasn't led the Celtics in points in either one of the Finals victories, as the Mavericks did their best to stifle the five-time All-Star with double coverage.

He scored 18 points in the Game 1 victory as the Mavericks held him to 6-of-22 shooting from the field, and is now 12-of-38 on the series.

Tatum responded to the attention by focusing on his playmaking instead. His seven assists in the second quarter of Game 2 marked the most in an NBA Finals quarter in 26 years.

He finished Game 2 with a team-leading 12 assists. Jrue Holiday, who led the Celtics with 26 points, scored half of that total thanks to six dimes from Tatum.

"Every time I take a couple dribbles, there's like three people right there," Tatum said after Game 2, per NBC Sports Boston. "We got a bunch of shooters on our team, and guys that can space the floor. They kept leaving Jrue open. So it wasn't like I had to do anything spectacular. It was just about finding the open guy."

Tatum and the Celtics will return to the floor Wednesday night for Game 3 against the Mavericks at American Airlines Center in Dallas.