Jason Kidd managed to establish a rhythm with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving after a rough start, following a chaotic beginning for the Dallas stars.
The Mavericks’ head coach has guided his team to the playoffs for the second time in three years, and now, at 51, he’s secured a contract extension.
The deal was inked on Monday, just before Dallas kicks off a second-round playoff matchup against Oklahoma City. This comes after the Mavs defeated the Los Angeles Clippers in six games.
Last year was a different story, as Dallas failed to make the playoffs after reaching the 2022 Western Conference finals in Kidd’s inaugural season as coach. Despite high hopes following the acquisition of Irving in February 2023, the Mavs struggled and chose to prioritize securing a draft pick over chasing a postseason spot, even when it was still a possibility mathematically.
Kidd faced tough questions during this period, but received backing from then-owner Mark Cuban. Dallas succeeded in retaining the draft pick, and rookie center Dereck Lively II made a significant impact in his first year.
“Last year was a learning experience for us, understanding our team’s character,” Kidd stated. “There were different opinions, but sticking to our internal plan was key.”
Irving stayed with Dallas, and under new ownership, the team surged to fifth in the West with a 50-32 record. Kidd’s contract extension follows rumors of him being linked to the Lakers’ coaching vacancy after Darvin Ham was let go.
Details of the extension were not disclosed. Both Doncic and Irving have one more season under team control. Irving has a player option for 2025-26, while Doncic has one for the following season.
“We’re thrilled to continue with coach Kidd leading our team with this extension,” said Dumont, the team’s governor, while Cuban serves as alternate governor. “We anticipate his guidance in furthering the growth of this already exceptional franchise.”
As a player, Kidd was a hall of famer, ranking second in career assists behind John Stockton. He transitioned into coaching immediately after retiring, leading Brooklyn to the playoffs in his first season before being hired by Milwaukee.
The Bucks dismissed Kidd midway through his fourth season after a few early playoff exits. He then served as a Lakers assistant for two years, including their championship win in the 2020 playoffs.
Replacing Rick Carlisle in Dallas, Kidd has a 140-106 regular-season record with the Mavs and a total coaching record of 323-296.
Since Kidd and Dirk Nowitzki led the Mavs to the 2011 championship, they hadn’t won another playoff series until two years ago under Kidd’s coaching. Now, Dallas has secured three series victories in three seasons.
“Jason brings a lot of experience and knowledge to this role,” stated general manager Nico Harrison. “He has earned the trust of our players and many others in the league.”
