Mavs' Jason Kidd, Rockets' Ime Udoka Reportedly Interest Knicks After Thibodeau Firing

The New York Knicks reportedly don't know exactly what is next and are interested in two currently unavailable head coaches after firing Tom Thibodeau.

NBA insider Marc Stein reported Wednesday "all initial indications … suggested that the Knicks do not have a locked-in succession plan at head coach." 

Yet Stein also reported they are interested in Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd and Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka. That doesn't mean anything will come of it, though, as Stein noted the Rockets would reject any request from New York to interview their head coach.

Kelly Iko of The Athletic reported the Rockets have "no interest" in entertaining that idea:

"A similar response would be expected from the Mavericks, but a read on their position as conclusive as Houston's could not be immediately confirmed," Stein wrote.

Stefan Bondy of the New York Post also listed Kidd as a possibility, adding that there is also some interest in former head coaches Mike Brown and Luke Walton.

Brown was fired as the Sacramento Kings coach during his third year with the team this past season, also adding experience with the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers. He went to the NBA finals with LeBron James in 2007.

Walton also coached the Lakers and Kings but never reached the playoffs.

Kidd would be a familiar name, as he played the final season of his career for the Knicks in 2012-13 and previously worked with star point guard Jalen Brunson. Brunson was on the Mavericks during Kidd's first season as the team's head coach in 2021-22 and helped lead them to the Western Conference Finals.

What's more, Stein noted Kidd interviewed with the Knicks in 2020 prior to the decision to hire Thibodeau and is still close with Giannis Antetokounmpo after previously coaching the future Hall of Famer on the Milwaukee Bucks.

Antetokounmpo's future will be a major talking point throughout the offseason, which could make Kidd more enticing for the Knicks or other teams looking to make a coaching change.

Still, that would require Dallas deciding it is time to move on from a head coach who is 179-149 in four seasons at the position. While the past season was a disappointing one that included a shocking trade of Luka Dončić and a number of injuries, the Mavericks are not far removed from their appearance in the 2024 NBA Finals.

Keeping Kidd would also mean maintaining some continuity ahead of a season where Dallas is surely hoping to compete in the Western Conference with Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving and, potentially, No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg.

It seems like a long shot at best that Kidd would be available for any team, but that reportedly hasn't stopped the Knicks from demonstrating some interest as they look to take the next step after their own Eastern Conference Finals loss.