Jason Kidd Fined by NBA for Criticizing Refs, Using Profanity After Mavs' Loss to Rockets
The NBA fined Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd $35,000 for criticizing the officiating and "using profane language" after his team's 111-107 loss to the Houston Rockets.
Kidd thought the refs missed a late foul on star rookie Cooper Flagg and said so publicly. His postgame press conference created more headlines for the way in which he pushed back against those who question his usage of Flagg.
"I don't give a f--k what you guys write, because you guys have never played the game," he told reporters. "So I build players, so I know what the f--k I'm doing. Taking criticism, it only makes me better, because if I wasn't doing it right, you guys wouldn't be poking holes in what I've done."
Kidd has deployed Flagg as the Mavs' primary facilitator at times, which isn't a role many had envisioned for the 2025 No. 1 overall pick straight out of the gate.
While Flagg struggled early on when deployed as a point guard, he has begun to find a comfort zone. He had 49 points, 10 rebounds and three assists in a 123-121 loss to the Charlotte Hornets. He followed that with another double-double (34 points, 12 rebounds and five assists) against the Rockets.
Kidd's credentials on the court are unimpeachable. He's a Hall of Famer who ranks third all-time in assists.
Being a great player doesn't mean one will excel as a head coach. Plenty of tenured pros and legendary stars have struggled when making the transition to the bench.
In the case of Kidd, Flagg's performances are providing a compelling counterargument to those who didn't think the point guard experiment was the right approach. His own experience as a floor general seems to have helped him identify the fact Flagg could handle some playmaking duties.
