Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd believes Luka Dončić has been the subject of "unfair" criticism as his team opened the 2024 NBA Finals with three straight losses.
"I think it's just sometimes unfair, or unwarranted, to be able to say those things. No one in this room is perfect," Kidd told reporters prior to the Mavericks' Game 4 against the Boston Celtics (h/t CBS New Texas' Jett Beachum.)
"Give my man a break. Let him play the game, because we're all here to watch him play. Let's just enjoy it. I mean, he's 25 years old. He will be better. Hopefully he's better tonight."
Jett Beachum @JetthroTVMavericks Head Coach Jason Kidd spent an enormous part of his pregame presser defending Luka Doncic from what he calls "personal attacks."<br><br>Here's 3+ minutes of Kidd on Doncic and the media coverage he's received <a href="">@CBSNewsTexas</a> | <a href="">@dallasmavs</a> <a href="">#NBAFinals</a> <a href="">#MFFL</a> <a href="">#OneForDallas</a> <a href="">
Dončić fouled out of the Mavericks' Game 3 loss on a defensive play with just over four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, raising criticisms of his ability to limit the Celtics from scoring.
Kidd was unimpressed with what he called critics' desire for Dončić to be a "shut-down defender."
"If you've watched the Mavs, Luka's improved his defense, but some are asking him to be a shut-down defender," Kidd said. "Well, he's never been on the All-Defensive team, but he's been on five All-Pro teams, so that means he's one of the top five players in the world, and he's playing the game the right way."
Kidd continued: "When you're on the biggest stage, someone's gotta poke a hole. This will only make the great ones better... with LeBron (James), Michael (Jordan), the greats, the GOATs, they all were poked at, and they came back stronger and better. And I truly believe Luka will come back stronger and better."
The Mavericks coach emphasized Dončić's age several times during the press conference. The Dallas star, who led the NBA with 33.9 points per game in the regular season, turned 25 in February.
"This young man has done nothing to anyone but play the game of basketball. When he's asked a question, he's never run from it, he's answered it. And he's 25 years old," Kidd said.
No NBA team has ever recovered from a 3-0 playoff series deficit. Dončić has the chance to turn the criticism he's been receiving on its head if he can lead the Mavericks to a historic comeback starting with a Game 4 win Friday night in Dallas.
