Mavericks finalizing deal to make Jason Kidd next head coach

Ethan Fuller
June 24 2021

The Dallas Mavericks are finalizing a deal with Jason Kidd to make him the team's next head coach, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. 

Kidd replaces Rick Carlisle, who left the Mavericks and was hired today by the Indiana Pacers. 

A former NBA champion with the Mavs in 2011, Kidd spent this season as an assistant for the Los Angeles Lakers. He has a 183-190 career record as a head coach with the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks.

Now back with Dallas, Kidd is tasked with taking the team further in the playoffs under franchise centerpiece Luka Doncic, whom he has praised in the past.

“His will to win, his competitiveness, he does it all at a very young age,” Kidd said of Doncic in 2019. “There’s really no flaws in his game. He’s actually fun to watch – until you have to play him... You can see his spirit and his love for the game. He’s a gamer. He loves the competition. He’s not afraid of it. He can make any pass and at his height (6'7), he can find guys."

Also, the Mavericks are reportedly in advanced talks with longtime Nike executive Nico Harrison to become their president of basketball operations.