Who is Jason Kidd? All you need to know about Dallas Mavericks’ 2011 champion turned head coach

Jason Kidd’s NBA coaching experience

To be precise, Kidd announced his retirement after the 2012-13 season, and before the start of the 2013-14 season, he was already the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets.

Unfortunately, Kidd only lasted a year in Brooklyn before signing with the Milwaukee Bucks as their head coach. Considering the Bucks were going through a rebuilding phase during Kidd’s tenure, the organization didn’t see much success.

In fact, the Bucks won just 139 games under Kidd before he was fired during the 2017-18 NBA season. After taking a break for a year or so, Kidd then joined the Los Angeles Lakers as an assistant coach.

He finally returned as a head coach with the Dallas Mavericks in 2021. While the Mavs reached the 2024 NBA Finals under him, most fans credit Luka Doncic more than the former NBA star.

While Kidd has faced major flak since the Mavs traded Doncic, he remains the head coach of the team. Many are surprised because Kidd was heavily linked to the New York Knicks throughout the summer.

Jason Kidd has a chance to prove his critics wrong

As a player, Kidd was one of the most beloved guards of his generation, especially among the Mavericks’ fanbase. After all, he played a key role in the organization’s sole NBA Championship run in 2011.

But as a head coach, Kidd has yet to receive his flowers from the NBA community. Kidd has a shot at proving his doubters wrong during the 2025-26 season.

For starters, he will have a terrific big man in Anthony Davis. Combine that with the top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving, once he returns from the sidelines.

If he can lead the Mavs to a championship just a year after the massive Doncic trade, Kidd may finally be considered among the top NBA head coaches.