Coach Jason Kidd to return for fifth season with Mavericks, GM Nico Harrison says after NBA Draft

New York Times

6 hours ago

Jason Kidd will be back for his fifth season as the Dallas Mavericks' coach.
That's what Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison said Wednesday, hours after his team selected Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 pick.
'Are there rumors still out there about J-Kidd?' Harrison said. 'I thought I shut them down. Yes, he will be the coach next year.'
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The New York Knicks have expressed serious interest in poaching Kidd from the Mavericks. The Knicks, who fired Tom Thibodeau three days after the Indiana Pacers eliminated them from the Eastern Conference finals, formally requested to interview Kidd on June 11. The Harrison-led front office in Dallas swiftly denied that request.
Kidd has two years remaining on his contract with the Mavericks. He was part of the franchise's welcoming crew when Flagg did a two-day visit to Dallas the week before the draft. On ESPN's broadcast Wednesday, Flagg said he had positive conversations with Kidd in the lead-up to the draft.
'I think he has a lot of confidence in me to just come in and be an impact player,' Flagg told ESPN. 'He's going to let me have the ball a little, I think, and just try to rock out and do what I can do.'
Kidd was one of five known coaches the Knicks asked to interview. The Knicks expressed interest in Ime Udoka (Houston Rockets), Billy Donovan (Chicago Bulls), Chris Finch (Minnesota Timberwolves) and Quin Snyder (Atlanta Hawks). None of those franchises granted the Knicks permission to speak to their coaches.
Udoka and Donovan received contract extensions. It remains unclear whether the Mavericks will tack more years onto Kidd's deal, given the Knicks' interest in him.
The Mavericks have a 179-149 record in Kidd's four seasons in charge. They made the Western Conference finals in 2022, and in 2024, they won the West before their postseason run came to an end against the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals.
Though Kidd is returning, his coaching staff is expected to look significantly different next season.
Sean Sweeney, Kidd's top assistant in Dallas, left to be the San Antonio Spurs' associate head coach. Jared Dudley is a candidate to be an assistant coach with the Memphis Grizzlies and Cleveland Cavaliers, according to league sources. In March, Alex Jensen accepted a job to be the men's basketball coach at Utah. It's also possible Dallas loses God Shammgod, who is a candidate to join Jamahl Mosley's staff with the Orlando Magic.
Kidd is expected to speak Friday, when the Mavericks formally introduce Flagg in a news conference in Dallas.