The Dallas Mavericks have fired Jason Kidd as head coach just weeks after installing Masai Ujiri as their new team president, the team announced Tuesday.
"Jason has had a meaningful impact on the Dallas Mavericks, both as a Hall of Fame player and as the head coach who helped lead this franchise back to the NBA Finals," Ujiri said in a statement. "We are thankful for Jason's leadership, his professionalism and his commitment to the team. In my short time here, I've developed an enormous amount of respect for what he has built. He will always be an important part of the Mavericks family."
Kidd's Five-Season Tenure
Kidd coached the Mavericks for five seasons, taking them to two conference finals and an NBA Finals. In total, he went 205-205 during his tenure.
Last season was difficult as Kyrie Irving spent the year rehabbing his torn ACL and Anthony Davis was traded. The departure of Luka Dončić left the franchise in transition.
However, there is now hope moving forward. Ujiri is seen as a symbol of stability, and his new hire will have pieces to work with, namely Cooper Flagg and the team's No. 9 overall draft pick.
Front Office Context
Kidd had expressed a desire to replace Nico Harrison as president of basketball operations after Harrison was fired in November, but was told that was not on the table, according to ESPN.
To get an actual fresh start, it appears the organization needed to remove everyone who was in a position of leadership when the Dončić trade went down. Harrison was fired, and now Kidd is gone.
Replacement Candidates
Ousting Kidd was Ujiri's first big move as team president. His second will be hiring a coach to shape the future of the Mavericks around Flagg.
Potential Fits
Sean Sweeney: Jason Kidd's longtime assistant coach left in 2025 to serve as the associate head coach with the San Antonio Spurs under Mitch Johnson. Could Dallas woo him back?
Tom Thibodeau: If the front office wants to go big-name hunting, the former Knicks coach qualifies.
Nick Nurse: He's still employed by the 76ers, but after president of basketball operations Daryl Morey was fired last week, stability is uncertain. Nurse served as head coach under Ujiri in Toronto when the Raptors won the 2019 championship.
Around the League
Kidd joins a growing list of coaching changes this offseason. Doc Rivers stepped away from the Milwaukee Bucks and was replaced by Taylor Jenkins, while the New Orleans Pelicans hired Jamahl Mosley to replace interim James Borrego.
The Chicago Bulls, Orlando Magic and Portland Trail Blazers all have head coach openings to fill.