Knicks' Jason Kidd Interview Request Reportedly Expected to Be Denied by Mavs

The Dallas Mavericks are reportedly expected to deny the New York Knicks permission to interview head coach Jason Kidd, should they request it.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, some "well-placed observers" have said the Mavs will turn down any Knicks request to interview Kidd, much like the Houston Rockets would deny interview requests for their head coach Ime Udoka.

Stein was the first to report on the Knicks' interest in Kidd and Udoka following their decision to fire head coach Tom Thibodeau this week.

In a follow-up to that initial report, Stein reported that the Knicks planned to request permission to interview Kidd. However, Stein also noted that Kidd is "believed to be happy" in Dallas.

Kidd has reportedly also expressed excitement over the prospect of coaching Duke product Cooper Flagg, who the Mavericks are expected to select with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft.

In five seasons under Thibodeau, the Knicks went 226-174 and reached the playoffs four times. That included a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals this season where New York fell to the Indiana Pacers in six games.

Despite the Knicks reaching the ECF for the first time since 2000 and falling just two wins short of the NBA Finals, the organization decided to move on from Thibs.

NBA insider Zach Lowe said this week on the Bill Simmons Podcast that he has heard "rumblings" about the Knicks wanting a former NBA player to be their next head coach.

Kidd, who is a Hall of Fame guard, would fit that description, but it doesn't sound as though the Knicks will have the opportunity to pursue him.

Instead, Kidd is in line to return for a fifth season as the head coach in Dallas. He has posted a 179-149 record thus far with two playoff appearances, including a trip to the NBA Finals last year.