“Playing Mind Games”: NBA Champion Blames Jason Kidd for the Downfall of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown finally reached the mountaintop together in 2024, leading the Boston Celtics to an NBA championship after years of coming up short. But according to former NBA star DeMarcus Cousins, their title run may have also marked the beginning of trouble between the two stars. Speaking on Gil's Arena, Cousins pointed the finger at former Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd for allegedly planting the seeds of discord between the Celtics teammates.

“J-Kidd really started this,” Cousins said on the show. “The whole downfall of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum? That was J-Kidd. He was in an interview, and he did exactly what [Gilbert Arenas] said: 'Oh, how can those guys play together?' Ever since then, they ran up a storm. That was J-Kidd, bro. He was just playing mind games to win the game.”

Cousins was referring to Kidd's comments during the 2024 NBA Finals, when the Mavericks coach suggested that Brown was Boston's best player. The remark came as Dallas tried to find a way to contain the Celtics' star duo, and Cousins believes Kidd was deliberately trying to create tension between them.

Whether that actually affected Tatum and Brown's relationship is another matter. Boston went on to win the series in five games, with Brown taking home Finals MVP honors. Tatum, meanwhile, remained publicly supportive of his teammate, even as the Finals MVP debate fueled discussions about which of the two was Boston's true leader.

The conversation around their relationship continued into the summer of 2024. Both Tatum and Celtics teammate Derrick White made the Team USA roster for the Paris Olympics, but Brown was left out despite winning Finals MVP. Brown questioned the decision publicly, and some observers wondered whether Tatum had done enough to advocate for his teammate. However, there was no confirmation that Tatum had influenced the selection or that the omission created a rift between the two.

Now, the former teammates are set to enter a new chapter in their careers. Brown has reportedly been traded to the Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George, ending his partnership with Tatum in Boston. That makes a potential Celtics-Sixers showdown featuring both stars one of the more intriguing storylines heading into the 2026-27 season.

Jayson Tatum Leads Celtics Past Jaylen Brown's 76ers

The Celtics and 76ers recently faced off in a matchup that offered a glimpse of what their new-look rosters could bring. Unfortunately, fans hoping to see Tatum go head-to-head with his former teammate had to wait a little longer, as Brown was not available for the game.

Tatum made the most of the opportunity, helping Boston cruise to a 144-106 victory on Saturday. He finished with 23 points, five rebounds, four assists, and one steal in just 27 minutes on the floor.

Paul George also contributed to the win, recording 13 points, five rebounds, four assists, and five steals. The performance offered an early look at the pairing Boston will hope can deliver results this season.

However, the result came with some important caveats. Philadelphia was without Joel Embiid, while LeBron James was also absent, making it difficult to draw firm conclusions from the blowout. And with Brown not playing, the game did little to answer the biggest question surrounding this new chapter: how will he fare against Tatum now that they're on opposite sides?

Their first meeting as opponents could bring plenty of attention, especially with Cousins' comments adding another layer to the conversation about their past. But whether Kidd's mind games ever played a role in their relationship remains speculation. The upcoming season should offer a clearer picture of where the two former champions stand now that their partnership in Boston is over.