The Dallas Mavericks have parted ways with head coach Jason Kidd after five seasons.
According to recently hired Mavs team president Masai Ujiri, Kidd’s firing is part of the team’s pivot to taking on a new direction.
“As we evaluate the future of our basketball program, we believe this is the right moment for a new direction for our team,” Ujiri said in a statement. “We have high expectations for this franchise, and a responsibility to build a basketball organization capable of sustained championship contention.”
As the Mavs chart a new path, Ujiri maintained that the organization will be thorough in searching for Kidd’s replacement.
“We will conduct a thorough, disciplined search for our next head coach and continue to evaluate our entire basketball operations staff to ensure we compete at the standard Mavs fans expect and deserve,” added Ujiri, who noted that Kidd “has done a great job” even with the firing.
Kidd still had four years left on his $40 million contract when he was fired.
The Jason Kidd Era: A Mixed Bag
The Mavericks named Kidd their head coach in June 2021. His tenure, up until his firing, was naturally filled with highs and lows. The Kidd era began with the former co-Rookie of the Year steering Dallas to its first Western Conference Finals since 2011, only to be eliminated in five games by the eventual champions, the Golden State Warriors. The Mavs struggled the following year, although they got Kyrie Irving later that season via trade.
Kidd and the Mavs then reached the NBA Finals in 2024 as Irving and Luka Doncic led a surprising run through the Western Conference. Dallas lost in the Finals to the Boston Celtics, but it appeared the seeds of title contention were planted. However, the Mavericks struggled again in 2025 with injuries, ultimately leading to the organization trading Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis and a few others.
The Mavs continued to struggle this season even after drafting eventual Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg. They also moved on from the injury-prone Davis as the season unraveled—mostly due to injuries. In all, Kidd finished his Mavericks stint with a 205-205 record in the regular season, highlighted by appearances in the NBA Finals and Western Conference Finals.
Right Move or Wrong Move?
Kidd’s firing came as a bit of a surprise, as he wasn’t really rumored to be in the hot seat. That being said, the question now is: Was it the right or wrong move?
On one hand, letting go of Kidd now seems a bit premature, especially since he hasn’t had the benefit of a healthy lineup. He has shown he can get the best out of Irving, Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively II, and PJ Washington, who make up the Mavs’ core. He also helped Flagg become a star in his rookie season. There’s been some goodwill developed here between coach and players, and breaking it up could be counterproductive.
Still, it can also be argued that the Mavs need a fresh start and new leadership, especially given Kidd’s uneven tenure. Kidd might either have worn out his welcome in Dallas or have hit a wall—thus requiring this new direction Ujiri talked about.
Ultimately, that is a question that won’t be answered now or in the next few weeks. But it would be worth revisiting months from now.
