Jason Kidd, Mavericks Reportedly Agree to Contract Extension After Knicks HC Rumors
After denying the New York Knicks' request to interview head coach Jason Kidd during this past offseason, the Dallas Mavericks made a further commitment to him this week.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Mavs rewarded Kidd with a multi-year contract on Tuesday.
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The team also had signed him to a multi-year contract extension in May 2024.
Kidd was rumored to have mutual interest in the head coaching opening with the Knicks following the surprising firing of Tom Thibodeau, but the Mavs wasted little time in shutting down New York's attempt to poach the 52-year-old.
Dallas originally hired Kidd prior to the 2021-22 season, bringing him back to the franchise that drafted him No. 2 overall in 1994 and with which he won an NBA championship in 2011. In four years at the helm, the former point guard has guided the Mavs to two playoff appearances with a run to the Western Conference Finals in 2022 and a trip to the NBA Finals in 2024.
Kidd was tasked with an unimaginable set of circumstances during the 2024-25 season, as Dallas general manager Nico Harrison made the shocking decision to trade star guard Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. The move kicked off a series of unfortunate events for the Mavs, as multiple key players missed extended time with injuries, including a six-week absence for star forward Anthony Davis and a season-ending torn ACL for star guard Kyrie Irving.
After all the chaos, Dallas finished the year with a 39-43 record and lost in the final play-in tournament game. Despite the disappointing ending to the season, the Mavs' luck quickly turned around when they landed the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft lottery. The team used the selection on Duke star and National Player of the Year Cooper Flagg, providing optimism that the future is bright in Dallas.
Kidd will now turn the page as the Mavs enter a new era with Flagg and Davis leading the way, as Tuesday's deal cements him as the man to try to lead the franchise back to the title picture.
