Cousins Blames Kidd for Tatum Brown Celtics Split

DeMarcus Cousins blamed Jason Kidd's 2024 NBA Finals comments for contributing to the eventual separation of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, who left the Boston Celtics as teammates and faced renewed attention during their reunion in Boston on Oct. 12, 2026.

According to NESN and Yahoo Sports, Cousins said Kidd's remarks about Brown's role with the Celtics helped create a narrative around the two stars. Kidd made the comments while coaching the Dallas Mavericks in the 2024 Finals.

Kidd had called Brown Boston's best player after Game 1 of the 2024 NBA Finals. Brown had won Eastern Conference Finals MVP before that series and later received NBA Finals MVP honors after Boston defeated Dallas in five games.

"The whole downfall of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, that was J Kidd. He was in an interview and he did exactly what you saying. Like, 'How can those guys play together?'

Ever since then, they ran with the story. That was J Kidd, bro. And he was just playing mind games to win the game," said DeMarcus Cousins.

Cousins repeated his view on the situation during an appearance on Gil's Arena, pointing to Kidd's strategy against Boston as a factor in the public discussion surrounding the teammates.

"J Kidd really started this. The whole downfall of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, that was J Kidd. He was in that interview and he did exactly what you said… Ever since then, they ran into each other. He was just playing mind games to win the game," said DeMarcus Cousins.

Brown and Tatum previously addressed attempts to create tension between them during the 2024 Finals. Brown dismissed the comments surrounding their relationship.

"No reaction," said Jaylen Brown.

Tatum said outside discussion about their partnership had followed them for years. The Celtics duo had played together for nine seasons before Brown was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers.

"We've been in this position for many years of guys trying to divide us and say that one of us should be traded or one is better than the other. So it's not our first time at the rodeo," said Jayson Tatum.

Kidd's comments came after Brown's strong postseason performances, including a 22-point Game 1 outing against Dallas compared with Tatum's 16 points. Tatum finished that game with 11 rebounds while shooting 6-for-16 from the field.

Kidd explained his evaluation of Brown during the Finals after seeing the forward's two-way impact against Dallas.

"Well, Jaylen is their best player. Just looking at what he does defensively… He did everything, and that's what your best player does. Just understanding he plays both sides, defence and offence, at a high rate," said Jason Kidd.

The later preseason reunion between Boston and Philadelphia drew attention after Brown and Tatum appeared not to interact during warmups. Basketballnews.com reported Brown watched from the locker room after being ruled out, while Tatum played and scored 23 points in Boston's 144-106 win.

Brown had previously described facing his former team as "running into an ex-girlfriend," according to Basketballnews.com. The reunion also included greetings between Brown and several Celtics staff members, while fans at TD Garden acknowledged the former Boston player.