The biggest shock isn’t that the Dallas Mavericks fired Jason Kidd. The real twist is that he hasn’t retired at all. While fans assumed the door closed after the team parted ways in May, Kidd is standing right there with his hand on the knob, ready to turn it again. In the Philippines, he assured reporters that coaching is an option he would never reject, perhaps at some point in the future.
Most people think a coach who just lost his job is done. Kidd isn’t done. He is 53 years old and still has the fire. He loves to watch players get better. He wants to win. He wants to help the team win. Those words came straight from him during an interview with Rappler’s Delfin Dioquino. The timing was strange since he was at an NBA House event in Manila, not in a team office.
Why He Stayed Away From the Bench
Kidd isn’t taking a break because he hates the game. He is taking time to enjoy his family. That was his clear message right after the firing. He said right now he’s just at home really trying to enjoy his family. The Mavericks moved fast after Masai Ujiri became president. Ujiri wanted a clean slate. He hired Dusty May as the new head coach just before the draft.
The team had a messy 15 months leading up to the change. Kidd only made the playoffs twice in five seasons. Even though they went to the NBA Finals in 2024, the regular season was rough. Fans were tired of the constant lineup tinkering. The team finished 26-56 last season. That record forced the hand of the front office. They fired Kidd 15 days after hiring Ujiri.
Still Helping Stars From Afar
Even without a title, Kidd is still working. He is always talking to Jalen Brunson and Giannis. He is trying to help others now that he’s not coaching. Brunson played for him in Dallas. Giannis played for him in Milwaukee. Kidd knows these players better than most. He learned a lot about the job when he started in Brooklyn. He realized being a player’s coach means something different when you run the team.
He has 10 total seasons of head coaching experience. His record sits at 388-395 overall. He has a championship ring from 2020 as an assistant with the Lakers. That win showed he can still get results. He might take an assistant job if the right one opens up. He took a year off after leaving Milwaukee in 2018 before joining the Lakers. History suggests he could do the same thing again.
The Mavericks are in a hard rebuild now. They are building around 19-year-old Cooper Flagg. Kidd has four years and more than $40 million left on his contract. That money is paid regardless of what he does next. He could sit this year out and watch from the sidelines. Or he could jump back in when the itch comes back. He said he would never say no to coaching.
