DALLAS – Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd passionately defended Dallas superstar Luka Dončić before Game 4 of the 2024 NBA Finals, following two days of criticism of the MVP finalist’s defensive efforts and on-court temperament after fouling out had made with 4:12 left in the Mavericks’ Game 3 loss to the Celtics.
During his pregame session with reporters Friday, Kidd was asked what it was like watching Dončić navigate everything he faced in this series – the enormous offensive workload he has to carry against the Celtics’ swarming defense, the constant target of a Boston offense looking to exploit his defensive shortcomings and numerous injuries, including a thoracic contusion for which he reportedly received a painkilling injection before Game 2. Dončić said during an interview with ESPN’s Malika Andrews on Thursday that he expected he would need another one. for a Game 4 in which he and his fellow Mavericks hope to avoid elimination.
Kidd declined to comment on Dončić’s physical health: “I don’t get involved in the medical stuff; I’ll just repeat ‘doubtful’ or ‘probable’ or whatever he is [listed as]. So that’s between the doctor and the player.” But he did commenting on what he sees as unfair lateral moves from his leading playmaker.
“Luka has been incredible so far and continues to be incredible,” Kidd said. “For whatever reason there have been some personal attacks on him, but he will learn from it. And he will be better when he gets back on track.”
When later asked if there was a specific personal attack that bothered him, Kidd expressed frustration at the idea that a 25-year-old product – even one as decorated and celebrated as Dončić – would be not only finished, but immaculate must be.
“I think when you look at today’s athlete, the game of sports doesn’t have to be perfect — it’s just, you know, to win,” Kidd said. “And if you look at what’s come out here in the last day or so…if you’ve been watching the Mavs, Luka has improved his defense. But we ask him – or some ask him – to be a shutdown defender. Well, he’s never been on an All-Defensive Team, but he’s been on five All-Defensive Teams.[NBA] Teams, first team. That means he is one of the five best players in the world. And he plays the game the right way, where he can find open guys.
“But when you’re on the biggest stage, there’s got to be someone to poke a hole,” Kidd continued. “This will only make the greats better. If you look at – we talked about it with LeBron yesterday [James]Michael [Jordan], the big ones, the GOATS They all got poked and they came back stronger and better. I really believe that Luka will come back stronger and better.”
Even though he has struggled to consistently knock down shots against the multiple defenders Boston has thrown at him (after shooting 69% inside 8 feet and 40.1% on stepback 3-pointers during the regular season, he dropped to 58% on close attempts and 26% on stepbacks in this series) and struggled with fatigue late in the games (he scored just eight points on 3-of-15 shooting in the fourth quarter of the finals), Dončić has been the main driver of the limited success Dallas has had in scoring against a dominant Celtics defense.
The league’s leading scorer during the regular season is averaging 29.7 points, nine rebounds and six assists in 39.4 minutes per game in the finals, shooting 56.5% on two-point attempts. Through three games, the Mavericks have been defeated by just four points in the 118 minutes he has been on the court, and have been hammered by 28 points in the 26 minutes he has been on the court.
Dončić is not the first young star to compete in a high-profile match against a superior team. And he’s not the first to come under fire as that opponent shines a bright megawatt spotlight on the remaining holes in his game for all to see. But for Kidd – a 10-time All-Star and six-time All-NBA selection during his playing career, who lost twice in the NBA Finals as the New Jersey Nets’ star point guard, and won a ring as the elder statesman facilitator with Dirk Nowitzki’s 2011 Mavericks – the barbs against Dončić have gone over the line.
“This is a free country. Everyone is entitled to their opinion,” Kidd said. “It’s just that sometimes we go a little too far, right? And understanding: if you put yourself in that person’s shoes, would you be able to withstand the barbecue? Sometimes we want to fry someone, but if you turned it over and you were fried, would you like that? Most likely not, right? That’s just the nature of the business. But this young man has done nothing but play basketball. And when asked the question, he has never run away from it. He answered it. And he is 25 years old.”
And when the focus goes to the few things a player does is not great at, unlike the many things he is do When things go well, as Kidd sees it, the NBA conversation as a whole suffers.
“I think that’s what I’m most disappointed about, is that we are at the highest level, where we have one of the best players in the world, who plays the game the right way, but we want to criticize some things which he does. Things are not going well,” Kidd said. “But if he does well, we will come back and want to talk to him. And then if he says, “No, I’m going to pass,” then what happens, right? I think sometimes it’s just unfair or unwarranted to say those things. No one in this room is perfect, right?
“So, give my man a break. Let him play the game. Because we’re all here to watch him play, and so let’s just enjoy it. He is 25 years old. He will be better. Hopefully he’ll be better tonight.”
