Dallas Mavericks Coach Jason Kidd Goes To Bat For Luka Doncic

Jason Kidd met with the media before Game 4.

May 30, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd at a press conference before game five of the western conference finals for the 2024 NBA playoffs against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports / Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

On Friday evening, the Dallas Mavericks will play the Boston Celtics (at home) for Game 4 of the NBA Finals.

Following Game 3, there was a lot of discourse about the play of All-Star Luka Doncic.

Many members of the media (and fans) spoke about Doncic's defense.

Brian Windhorst goes OFF on Luka Doncic 😳

(🎥 @BoltGangBaby ) pic.twitter.com/Tp7nY2R3Vo

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 13, 2024

Jason Kidd met with the media prior to Game 4, and he stuck up for his star player (h/t Jett Beachum of CBS News Texas).

Kidd: "Give my man a break. Let him the play game, because we're all here to watch him play. Let's just enjoy it. He's 25-years-old. He will be better. Hopefully, he's better tonight."

Mavericks Head Coach Jason Kidd spent an enormous part of his pregame presser defending Luka Doncic from what he calls "personal attacks."

Here's 3+ minutes of Kidd on Doncic and the media coverage he's received @CBSNewsTexas | @dallasmavs #NBAFinals #MFFL #OneForDallas pic.twitter.com/BgRxi65SjX

— Jett Beachum (@JetthroTV) June 14, 2024

Doncic finished Game 3 with 27 points, six rebounds, six assists and one steal while shooting 11/27 from the field and 1/7 from the three-point range in 38 minutes of playing time.

He fouled out of the game with over four minutes left in the fourth quarter, which was also a huge talking point over the last 48 hours.

The Mavs lost the game by a score of 106-99, so they trail the Celtics 0-3 heading into Game 4.

Luka Doncic has fouled out of Game 3 after the Mavs challenge on this call was unsuccessful pic.twitter.com/jePE4S147b

— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) June 13, 2024

Doncic is coming off a fantastic regular season where he averaged 33.9 points, 9.2 rebounds, 9.8 assists and 1.4 steals per contest while shooting 48.7% from the field and 38.2% from the three-point range in 70 games.

He made the Western Conference finals for the second time in the previous three seasons, and this is the first time he's made the NBA Finals over his six-year career.