The situation with former NBA All-Star Jason Kidd is a bit complicated. On one hand, players and fellow coaches seem to have a deep liking and respect for him, as both Damian Lillard and Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle have advocated for him.
On the other hand, his coaching resume is not exactly ideal. In both of his stints with Brooklyn and Milwaukee, which were relatively short-lived, the teams seemingly got better after his departure, leading some to question if it was his coaching that was holding them back.
That’s not even taking into account his history of domestic violence, which many fans have used to campaign against his hiring.
Nonetheless, it seems like the Dallas Mavericks are pretty close to naming Kidd as their next head coach, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The Dallas Mavericks are closing in on the hiring a new GM and Jason Kidd has emerged as a strong frontrunner to be hired as head coach, sources tell @espn_macmahon and me.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 24, 2021
According to a follow-up report by Tim MacMahon, Kidd has gotten endorsements from several individuals within the organization.
Mark Cuban and the soon-to-be hired GM have had in-depth discussions about the coaching candidates, sources said. Jason Kidd has had support of Dirk Nowitzki and others advising Cuban. https://t.co/WrvVaGsONC
— Tim MacMahon (@BannedMacMahon) June 24, 2021
Mavs fans are split on the news, and it’s clear that they need a lot of convincing before they’re completely sold on the decision.
And while it definitely raises concerns, it’s important to remember that Kidd might be able to build a special connection to Luka Doncic. His tenure as a player involved being a playmaker to his team, much like Luka is to the current Mavs team.
Hopefully, if hired, Kidd can help grow Doncic’s game and take the young team to new heights in the West.
