When we think of sports fans, images of rabid devotion and colorful expressions of team allegiance come to mind: The foam finger, the painted face, the signed jersey and more. For many, the love for their team runs deep, often rooted in local pride. But what happens when your team falls short and the NBA Finals roll around without them?
For fans of Bay Area basketball, disappointment looms large in 2024. The conclusion of Cal men’s basketball’s season in March was followed up a month later by the Golden State Warriors’ early exit from the play-in tournament, and none of the other NBA teams in California made it beyond the first round of the playoffs.
With the absence of hometown heroes on the court, Bay Area and California fans find themselves yearning for a reason to watch the NBA Championship beyond mere love for the game.
Enter Jaylen Brown and Jason Kidd, two former Cal men’s basketball players providing Bay Area and Cal fans with a new reason to tune in.
Brown, a star player for the Boston Celtics, and Kidd, head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, find themselves on opposing benches in the NBA Finals. For local fans seeking a reason to rally behind a familiar face in the battle between the Northeastern and Southern champions, Brown and Kidd offer the perfect opportunity.
Jaylen Brown joined the Bears in 2015 as a top-five recruit in his class and immediately made a significant impact for the blue and gold. In his lone season, Brown averaged 14.6 points, earning first-team All-Pac-12 honors, Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and a spot on the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Freshman All-America team, solidifying his status as one of the brightest talents in college basketball. His performance led Cal to its highest NCAA tournament seed in program history.
Selected third overall in the 2016 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics, Brown naturally transitioned to the professional ranks, becoming a cornerstone player for the franchise. In his eight seasons with the Celtics, Brown has amassed three NBA All-Star selections and played a key role in the team’s six appearances in the Eastern Conference Finals since 2017.
Brown’s journey from Cal standout to NBA star continues to captivate fans. Fresh off of being named Larry Bird Eastern Conference Finals MVP, Brown and the Celtics are gearing up for another shot at a championship title.
Though Brown’s recent stint at Cal and current star status control much of the narrative, Jason Kidd’s history with the Dallas Mavericks as a player-turned-coach adds another dimension to the Cal alumni presence in the Finals.
In the 1992-1993 Cal men’s basketball season, Kidd’s impressive freshman-year performances earned him national Freshman of the Year honors. He averaged a noteworthy 13.0 points, 7.7 assists and 3.8 steals per game, leading the Bears to an NCAA tournament bid and a memorable upset victory over Duke, the two-time defending national champion.
Kidd’s sophomore season was equally remarkable. He continued to dominate on the court, averaging 16.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 9.1 assists per game. His extraordinary contributions to the team earned him numerous accolades, including Pac-10 Player of the Year and a first-team All-America selection. Cal retired Kidd’s No. 5 jersey in 2004 and inducted him into the California Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017.
In 1994, Kidd was drafted second overall by the Dallas Mavericks, where he played two and a half seasons before playing for several other teams. Kidd had a stellar 19-year NBA career filled with awards and accomplishments, peaking in an NBA Championship during his second stint with the Mavs. He transitioned to coaching in 2013, but he didn’t return to Dallas until he was named head coach in 2021.
Despite his collegiate and professional success, Kidd’s legacy is not without controversy. His NBA career was marred by a domestic violence arrest in 2001, where he pleaded guilty in assaulting his now ex-wife and was ordered to take anger management training.
Still, Kidd’s impact on the court cannot be denied — he went on to become one of the greatest point guards in NBA history. Now, the Mavericks head to the Finals for the first time since Kidd was their starting point guard.
After a disappointing season for Bay Area basketball, the NBA Finals present an opportunity for fans to reignite their enthusiasm, beginning with Game 1 June 6 at TD Garden. Whether you’re rooting for Brown or Kidd, the Finals offer fans a chance to celebrate the rich tradition of basketball excellence fostered at Cal.