Jason Kidd: Jaylen Brown Is Celtics' 'Best Player'; Praises Defense vs. Luka Dončić | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

After his team dropped Game 1 of the 2024 NBA Finals by 18 points, perhaps Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd sees fomenting internal discord as his team's best strategy for overcoming the Boston Celtics.

Ahead of Sunday's Game 2, Kidd said he considers Jaylen Brown to be Boston's best player and cited in part Brown's work in guarding Luka Dončić:

NBA TV @NBATV

"Well, Jaylen [Brown] is their best player.. He plays both both sides at a high rate."<br><br>-HC Jason Kidd on what makes going up against Jaylen Brown so challenging <a href="">

Brown, for his part, did not seem very moved by Kidd's endorsement:

Ben Golliver @BenGolliver

Jaylen Brown on Mavericks coach Jason Kidd calling him Boston's best player: "I don't have no reaction. It's a team game. I'm trying to focus on that. Everybody has their own opinions."

Kidd may or may not know exactly what he's doing.

His comments are all but guaranteed to generate some discourse about whether Brown or Jayson Tatum is the top dog in Boston.

Rachel Nichols @Rachel__Nichols

Jason Kidd on Jaylen Brown, casually lighting Boston sports radio on fire for the next 24 hours: "Jaylen's their best player. Looking at what he does defensively, he picked up Luka full court, got to the free throw line, did everything, and that's what your best player does."

Chris Williamson @CWilliamson44

Jason Kidd can't fool me I know exactly what he's doing lol. <a href="">

Blazer Banter @blazerbanter

This is some Phil Jackson-esque manipulation lmao <a href="">

Earlier this postseason, Brown also alluded to how he doesn't believe he garners the respect he deserves. After failing to earn an All-NBA nod, the three-time All-Star said his focus was primarily on winning a championship. But he then made his broad feelings pretty clear.

"I watch guys get praised and anointed who I feel are half as talented as me on either side of the ball," Brown told reporters. "But at this point in my life, I just embrace it. It comes with being who I am and what I stand for, and I ain't really changing that."

"I just come out and I'm grateful to step out onto the floor each and every night, put my best foot forward and get better each and every year. Whether people appreciate it or not, it is what it is."

Brown and Tatum are too experienced and they've spent too much time together as teammates to think mind games are going to work under these circumstances. The Celtics are three wins away from a title that would be a résumé-affirming achievement for their two stars.

Not to mention, there has never been anything to indicate Brown and Tatum's relationship has ever reached a point where it could splinter the locker room or doom a title quest.

From Kidd's perspective, it can't hurt to at least try to throw one of the pair off his game in the Finals.