How Jason Kidd went from Mavericks player to coach
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We all need a Coach Kidd in our corner. Photo: Joshua Gateley/Getty Images
Point guard Jason Kidd helped the Dallas Mavericks win their first NBA championship in 2011, alongside pals Dirk Nowitzki, Tyson Chandler and Jason Terry.
- Now, he's helping the team pursue their second title.
Why it matters: Kidd's comeback story as the Mavs' head coach deserves a full-circle championship run, and he's earned it this season.
- The Mavericks are playing in the Western Conference Finals for the second time in three seasons under Kidd.
Catch up quick: Kidd retired from his 19-year NBA career in 2013, finishing as a member of the New York Knicks.
- He coached the Brooklyn Nets, Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers before returning to Dallas in 2021.
Of note: Kidd recently signed a multiyear contract extension with the Mavs.
The intrigue: After a rough first year with Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving playing together, the Mavs are playing like a team — though many of the players are experiencing their first playoffs.
- Kidd's coaching staff has focused on the pace of the game and building trust among the players. He's also cultivated close relationships with his players, balancing being easygoing and brutally honest, per Irving.
Fun fact: Irving was a kid when he watched Kidd play on the New Jersey Nets during 2002 and 2003 NBA Finals appearances. Irving went on to play for the Nets in 2019.
- They also share a birthday, March 23.
- "This is beautiful honestly, because I could reflect on this journey and say I was that 9-year-old kid looking up to J-Kidd leading the New Jersey Nets in those finals," Irving said.
The bottom line: "Our culture is what you see. There's a trust, there's enjoyment, there's fun," Kidd told reporters last weekend.
- "This is a great challenge as a coach. I've got great guys that I trust and believe in, win or lose. And that's the beauty of the Mavs right now."