The Jason Kidd era in Dallas Mavericks history has officially ended. The franchise announced on Tuesday that it and Kidd have mutually agreed to part ways after five seasons as head coach.
Kidd, a Hall of Famer who played for the Mavericks himself and was drafted No. 2 overall by the team in 1994, took over as head coach ahead of the 2021-22 season following Rick Carlisle’s departure. He led Dallas to the NBA Finals in 2024 alongside star guard Luka Dončić, but the team has struggled since Dončić was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers the following season.
During his tenure, Kidd compiled a 205-205 record as head coach, marking his third coaching stint in the NBA after previous positions with the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks. Despite signing a contract extension last summer, Kidd leaves with four years and over $40 million remaining on his deal.
“Jason has had a meaningful impact on the Dallas Mavericks, both as a Hall of Fame player and as the head coach who helped lead this franchise back to the NBA Finals,” said team president Masai Ujiri. “We are thankful for Jason’s leadership, his professionalism and his commitment to the team. He will always be an important part of the Mavericks family.”
The Mavericks have not made the playoffs since the Dončić trade and finished last season with a 26-56 record, their worst since 2017-18. With high draft picks secured — including Duke star Cooper Flagg at No. 1 — the team is now looking to rebuild around Kyrie Irving, who missed the entire 2025-26 season recovering from a torn ACL.
Kidd’s departure comes amid a broader organizational overhaul. Ujiri, recently hired as president, replaced Nico Harrison following fan backlash over the Dončić trade, and has already brought in Mike Schmitz as general manager. The trio now faces the task of finding a new head coach and steering the Mavericks back toward championship contention.
“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. “We have high expectations for this franchise and a responsibility to build a basketball organization capable of sustained championship contention.”
