Jason Kidd Reportedly Finalizing Contract to Become Next Mavericks HC
June 24, 2021
The Dallas Mavericks have zeroed in on Hall of Famer Jason Kidd as their new head coach, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
Dallas will mark Kidd's third stop as an NBA coach once the agreement is finalized. He was hired by the Brooklyn Nets immediately after his retirement as a player in 2013, spending one season with the franchise before forcing his way to the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Bucks fired Kidd after three-and-a-half seasons in 2018. He posted a 183-190 record in four-plus seasons as a head coach, reaching the postseason three times but only advancing past the first round once.
While Kidd struggled to reach some players, particularly in the latter part of his Milwaukee tenure, Giannis Antetokounmpo credited him as being instrumental to his development.
"He was a big part of my success," he said in 2018. "He trusted me, he put the ball in my hands, he motivated me on a daily basis, he pushed me to be great and not to be mediocre.
Kidd spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers under Frank Vogel.
The Mavericks will hope his outlook has changed a bit having spent two years learning. He seemed more defiant about his coaching style than willing to change in a 2018 interview with B/R's Howard Beck.
"So, 'driving them hard?' I think, working," Kidd said. "There's nothing wrong with work. If you want to be great, you have to work. If you want to be good, you have to work. If you want to just be average, or below average, then you don't have to work."
One thing the Mavericks can offer Kidd that no other team with a coaching vacancy could is Luka Doncic. The 22-year-old is already a two-time All-Star and a potential MVP candidate for years to come.
There's still work for Dallas' front office to do in order to surround Doncic with more high-end talent that will allow the franchise to compete for championships, but the biggest piece of the puzzle is already in place.
If Kidd doesn't find more success this time around, he could be in his last stop as an NBA coach.