Jason Kidd has emerged as a strong favorite to be hired as the Dallas Mavericks’ next head coach and the team is getting closer to hiring a new general manager, sources told ESPN’s Tim MacMahon and Adrian Wojnarowski on Thursday.
Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and the soon-to-be-hired general manager have had in-depth meetings about coaching candidates, the sources said.
Kidd, who had two seasons with the Mavericks during his playing career and starred on the 2010-11 championship team, has had the support of Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki and others who have been advising Cuban. Nowitzki recently returned to the franchise as a special advisor to assist Cuban in the search for a new basketball CEO and head coach in the wake of the departure of Donnie Nelson and Rick Carlisle.
Carlisle, who resigned after a 13-year term in Dallas, offered an unsolicited endorsement to Kidd as his replacement.
“My hope is Jason Kidd is the next Mavs coach because he and Luka doncic They have a lot in common as players, “Carlisle told ESPN Thursday after agreeing to become the head coach of the Indiana Pacers.” I think it would be a great situation for Luka, and I think it would be an incredible situation for Jason. I am the only person on the planet who has trained both guys and knows all their special qualities. like basketball players. For me, it would be a great match, but that’s just an opinion. “
Kidd has a career record of 183-190 as head coach. He coached the Brooklyn Nets in 2013-14 and the Milwaukee Bucks in 2014-15 and 2017-18. Kidd, who has spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Lakers, is 9-15 in the playoffs, advancing to the second round in his only season with the Nets.
Mavs assistant coach Jamahl Mosley, who has a particularly strong relationship with Doncic, is among the other coach candidates who have been considered.
Kidd, 48, a ten-time All-Star who won five assist titles, was selected by Dallas with the second overall pick. He was traded to the Phoenix Suns in December 1996 and returned to Dallas in February 2008 after a season with the Suns and the then New Jersey Nets.
He spent five seasons with the Mavs during his second spell in Dallas, forging strong relationships with Cuban and several others who remain in Dallas’ headquarters and support staff.
Kidd’s departure from Dallas in the 2012 offseason was bitter for Cuban, as Kidd changed his mind after agreeing to re-sign with the Mavs and instead join the New York Knicks in free agency, but does Much to soften any resentment that arose from that outing.