Report: Jason Kidd Didn’t Enjoy Being Mavericks’ Spokesperson After Luka Doncic Trade

According to James L. Edwards III of The Athletic, Jason Kidd didn’t enjoy being the Dallas Mavericks’ spokesperson after the Luka Doncic trade in February. 

Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison traded Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis and Max Christie. 

The New York Knicks are interested in hiring Kidd, who is interested in leaving Dallas for New York. 

“The Mavericks head coach has connections to several members of the Knicks organization, including star guard Jalen Brunson and Knicks vice president of sports medicine Casey Smith,” Edwards III wrote.

“Furthermore, Kidd didn’t always enjoy being Dallas’ spokesperson in the aftermath of the franchise trading Luka Doncic, per league sources. In a Feb. 10 game against the Kings, Mavericks center Daniel Gafford got hurt. In the middle of the injury crisis, multiple fans were also ejected for protesting the Doncic trade. Kidd didn’t address the media afterward.”

Kidd has two years left on his contract with the Mavericks, who missed the playoffs this year after making the NBA Finals last year. Dallas is expected to draft Duke’s Cooper Flagg with the first overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft. 

One of the top point guards in NBA history, Kidd has coached the Brooklyn Nets, Milwaukee Bucks and Mavericks. He has a record of 362-339 in the regular season and 31-33 in the playoffs. 

“The Knicks have interest in Jason Kidd, per league sources. The problem? Kidd, the coach of the Dallas Mavericks, has two years left on his contract,” Edwards III wrote. “The Knicks, while they might be preparing to ask for permission to interview Kidd for their vacancy, have not yet made a formal request. There has yet to be any contact as of Monday morning, per a Mavericks team source. And yet, when that time comes, per multiple league sources, the expectation is that the Mavericks will deny that request.”

The Knicks fired Tom Thibodeau despite making the conference finals this year for the first time since 2000.

Indiana defeated New York in the ECF in six games.