‘People try to drive a wedge between us’ Jayson Tatum hits back at Jason Kidd’s comments about Boston Celtics teammate

BOSTON Celtics star Jayson Tatum responded to Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd’s comments about his teammate Jaylen Brown.

Kidd told reporters that Brown was the Boston Celtics’ best player before Game 2 of the NBA Finals.

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On Saturday, Kidd was asked what makes facing Brown so challenging.

“Well, Jaylen is their best player,” Kidd commented. “So just looking at what he does defensively. courtgot to the free throw line, he did everything.”

Tatum was apparently unfazed by Kidd’s comments.

“This is a team sport,” Tatum said when asked about the comments, per NBA Reporter Justin Turpin. “We understand that. We wouldn’t be here if he didn’t have (Jaylen) on our team… We understand that people try to drive a wedge between us. It’s a smart thing to try to do.

“But we’ve been in this position for many years, of guys trying to divide us and say one of us should be traded, or one is better than the other.

“It’s not our first time at the rodeo.”

Kidd’s comments came after the Celtics defeated the Mavericks 107-87 in Game 1 on Thursday.

Brown scored a team-high 22 points to go along with six rebounds, three blocks, three steals and two assists.

Tatum, in turn, recorded 16 points, adding 11 rebounds and five assists.

The 27-year-old Brown, who won the Eastern Conference Finals MVP award over Tatum in a 5-4 vote, didn’t share much comment on Kidd’s words.

“I have no reaction,” Brown said, for Forbes. “I don’t know, it’s a team game. We’re trying to focus on that and everyone has their own opinions.”

Celtics big man Al Horford found the comments comical.

“J-Kidd, man, I see what he’s doing,” Horford said at the podium during media availability. “Jaylen Brown is an incredible player and very special to us.”

He also added, “That man is sneaky,” after walking away from the podium.

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Brown has been tremendous in the playoffs, averaging 24.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists while shooting 36.6 percent from downtown.

Tatum averaged 25.3 points, 10.4 rebounds and 5.9 assists in the postseason.

The two stars played together for seven years and reached five Eastern Conference Finals and now two NBA Finals together.

And Brown and Tatum will continue to argue over which Celtics player is the team’s leader.

Tatum is a five-time All-Star, while Brown has four All-Star selections.

Game 2 of the NBA Finals between the Mavs and Celtics will take place on Sunday night at the TD Garden in Boston.