Jason Kidd: “To win championships, you have to play defense. These guys check that box”

Today, the Dallas Mavericks officially introduced their 2021 free agency additions as the start of a new era is underway. Rick Carlisle is no longer the head coach after 13 seasons, and new head coach Jason Kidd comes in with a vision of connecting with star Luka Doncic and building a team that can mesh with his skillset. Kidd, a 10-time all-star as a point guard that included a championship with the Mavs in 2011, knows that while his experience will benefit Doncic, they need to focus on both sides of the ball.

“Yeah, shooting is important. But we also gotta play a little defense, right? So when you look at the guys up here, they can do that too,” says Kidd. “As much as we’ll talk about offense, to win championships, you have to play defense. These guys check the box when we talk about playing defense.”

General Manager Nico Harrison also confirms that it was a factor in the free agency process.

“It was key,” says Harrison. “Definitely wanted to improve shooting. Also, versatility. Players that could play and defend multiple positions.”

The Mavericks brought on Reggie Bullock, Moses Brown, and Sterling Brown via free agency. They also re-signed Tim Hardaway Jr., Boban Marjanovic, and extended Doncic this offseason as they try to propel past the first round of the playoffs for the first time since their championship run in 2011.

Bullock and Sterling Brown will surely provide a spark from three-point range, especially with their spot-up shooting ability. Both have career percentages over 37% from deep, and both have the size and skill to make an impact defensively on the perimeter. Moses Brown gives the team another big-bodied center that can protect the paint and develop into a solid contributor on the defensive end.

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