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 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. He reportedly had four years and more than $40 million left on his contract.
Last season was difficult as Kyrie Irving spent the year rehabbing his torn ACL and Anthony Davis was traded. The franchise also traded Luka Dončić, leaving the team without direction until now.
But there is hope moving forward. Ujiri is seen as a symbol of stability and whoever he hires as his new coach will have Cooper Flagg and this year's No. 9 overall draft pick to work with.
Kidd had "expressed a desire" to replace Nico Harrison as president of basketball operations after he was fired in November, but was told that was not on the table, according to ESPN. With Harrison already fired and now Kidd gone, it is officially a new day in Dallas.
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. Here are a few candidates who could fit the bill:
Sean Sweeney: Jason Kidd's longtime assistant coach left in 2025 to serve as the associate head coach with the 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 is still employed by the 76ers, but after president of basketball operations Daryl Morey was fired last week, how much stability is left? Nurse served as head coach under Ujiri in Toronto when the Raptors won the 2019 championship.
Other Coaching Moves
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 Mosery to replace interim James Borrego, who stepped in midseason after Willie Green was fired.
The Chicago Bulls, Orlando Magic and Portland Trail Blazers all have head coach openings to fill.