2024 NBA Finals: These Mavericks are a reflection of Jason Kidd — ‘We like the underdog role’

MINNEAPOLIS — Pardon Jason Kidd if he chooses to flex. He won’t outwardly, but he takes a great measure of pride both for himself and this Dallas Mavericks team in getting to the NBA Finals.

Not many believed they would, and if they would fix their minds to seeing it, plenty believed Kidd wouldn’t be on the sidelines, guiding and pushing this franchise through an impressive playoff run.

He was thought by some to be on a hot seat in Dallas despite taking the Mavericks to the Western Conference finals in 2022.

“Everybody’s gonna change their tune or their tone or to say I am the one [to lead],” Kidd told Yahoo Sports on Thursday night after the Mavericks finished off the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games in the Western Conference finals. “My job is to build something. Everybody’s into this instant thing. It doesn’t happen. Championship organizations aren’t built overnight.”

Kidd still has his players believing they’re the underdogs despite their impressive run to the Finals — a part-truth, part-motivational tactic to keep them on edge.

Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd watches play during the first half in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Sunday, May 26, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

“We like the underdog role, we have to be,” Kidd said. “Boston’s been there before. We’re just a group of guys, that some people say, that just got put together and will play on the playground. It’s cool to see this group come together for a short amount of time and believe, and we got a great group of young men.”

Moments before he huddled up in an extensive but celebratory meeting with new Mavs governor Patrick Dumont, Kidd was able to exhale — if only for a minute. His contract extension from three weeks ago remains fresh, and yet he looks worth every penny.

“And for Nico [Harrison, Mavs president of basketball operations and general manager] and Patrick to see that with the extension before we even got past the first round,” Kidd said. “Understanding that they believed in what I could do, and they saw the impact I had on the…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/2024-nba-finals-these-mavericks-are-a-reflection-of-jason-kidd–we-like-the-underdog-role-003853714.html

Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2024-06-03 00:38:53

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