Boston — In the opening game of the NBA Finals, Jason Kidd was unable to stop the Boston Celtics.
He is now hoping they will obstruct their own path.
When he named Jaylen Brown the Celtics’ best player on Saturday, the Mavericks coach appeared anxious to incite conflict in the Boston locker room. Tatum, an actual NBA first-team player who finished sixth in the MVP voting, was obviously offended by the remarks.
Muhammad Ali before the Thrilla in Manilla. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin at Wrestlemania. Morgan Wallen in any town south of Charleston, S.C. Kristaps Porzingis in Boston.
It’s very cool to be the subject of attention walking into an arena.
Porzingis found out Thursday, as he caused quite the stir prior to the Celtics’ victory over the Dallas Mavericks in Game 1 of the NBA Finals at TD Garden.
“It was insane,” Porzingis said Saturday, per league-provided video. “I’m not gonna lie, just walking in the tunnel it was kinda like a WWE-style walk in. I didn’t even know it was for me at first, but walking out and hearing the crowd roar was — it was real excitement to start the game and give everything to these fans that came to support.”
The Celtics were amused by his unannounced arrival as well, since Jayson Tatum, who was wearing a microphone during the match, teased Porzingis about the spectacle of it all during a discussion with Derrick White.
Jaylen Brown anticipates that Sunday’s audience will be louder for Game 2, so maybe Porzingis will make an even more extravagant entrance.
