Celtics’ Jrue Holiday clarifies viral take on Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown comparison

BOSTON, MA — The 2024 NBA Finals has been a battle on and off the court, and Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd tried to win the fight in the media on Saturday. He called Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown the team's best player, which was likely an attempt to cause discord and jealousy among the Eastern Conference champions. It initially sounded like Celtics guard Jrue Holiday fell for Kidd's trap during an interview with SiriusXM NBA Radio, as he said Dallas' manager wasn't “lying.”

However, Holiday set the record straight following Boston's 105-98 win over the Mavs on Sunday evening. Before he was even asked a question during his postgame press conference, he stressed that both Brown and Celtics star Jayson Tatum, often considered Boston's go-to guy, are elite players who demand respect and not comparison.

“I want to address the comment that was made yesterday. I feel like people kind of took that out of context,” Jrue Holiday clarified. “I've been hearing that I prefer JB over JT and that's not what that was. I like to praise my teammates. I like to praise my teammates when they're playing well, and I feel like that's what I did my best to do … I do not prefer one or the other. I prefer both. Both of them are superstars, and it's being shown out here on the biggest stage in the world.”

Although Tatum struggled to find his shot (6-for-22 from the field), he finished one board shy of a triple-double with 18 points, 12 assists, and nine rebounds in Game 2. The five-time All-Star created 27 points off of his assists, according to PivotFade.

“I mean, every time I'd take a couple dribbles, there was, like, three people were right there,” Tatum said in his postgame remarks. “So we got a bunch of shooters on our team and guys that can space the floor … So it wasn't like I had to do anything spectacular. It was just about finding the open guy.”

Brown also had a well-rounded game that propelled the Celtics' offense. He recorded 21 points (8-for-15 from the floor), seven assists (tying a playoff career-high), four rebounds, and three steals. The three-time All-Star notched the final basket of the contest as well, blowing by Mavericks forward Maxi Kleber for the game-sealing layup with 29.1 seconds remaining.

“I think we played harder than them tonight, and I think that's just going to be the key,” Brown stated. “If we want to win, we just got to be the harder-playing team.”

How Jrue Holiday, Celtics have benefitted from Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown's unselfishness

With his provocative comment to the media, Kidd might've been trying to get Boston's stars to do something selfish in Game 2. He could've been hoping that Tatum and Brown would play too much “hero ball” and shoot the Celtics out of the game or not facilitate enough.

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Instead, both stars moved the ball when necessary and performed selflessly.

“We're so close to what we're trying to accomplish, why would I let my ego or my need to score all the points get in the way of that,” Tatum said with humility. “If I need to have 16 potential assists every single night and that's what puts us in the best position to win and it doesn't mean I'm the leading scorer, by all means, if that gives us the best chance to win, sign me up.”

A major reason why the C's captured Game 2 is because they trusted Jrue Holiday's scoring ability. The first-year Celtic posted an impressive stat line with 26 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block.

“Jrue is a great teammate, nothing short of that,” Brown stated. “He's brought championship pedigree to our team. So nothing Jrue says we question. Jrue, he comes in and he just is who he is. He's got that demeanor, that killer-like mentality, and we respect it.”

The respect is mutual, as Holiday discussed how much he appreciates Tatum and Brown, especially after facing them in the 2022 Eastern Conference semifinals while on the Milwaukee Bucks.

“Both of them know how I feel about them, how I feel about them as players,” he said. “But to compare them is something that I would never do because they're two completely different players as well as being on the same team, and the things that they have done in this organization and the things that they have done against me as an opponent. I say, like, how they play together and how they work together is something that is sacred and something that can't be broken.”

Boston will have to come together again for Game 3, which tips off on Wednesday night in Dallas. Up 2-0, the Celtics still understand that they have to avoid complacency.

“Job's not done,” Holiday declared. “We have to do whatever it takes.”