Dallas Mavericks Make Statement After Parting Ways With Jason Kidd
Jason Kidd took the Dallas Mavericks to places they hadn't been in years. A Western Conference Finals run in 2022, an NBA Finals appearance in 2023. Those moments defined his tenure.
But the last two seasons told a different story. Dallas finished 39-43 in 2024 and 26-56 in 2025, missing the playoffs for consecutive years, and that was enough for the new man in charge to make his first major call.
The Dallas Mavericks announced they have mutually agreed to part ways with Kidd as head coach. The organization said it will immediately begin a comprehensive search for his replacement.
Mavericks President Masai Ujiri acknowledged what Kidd meant to the franchise while making clear the decision was final.
"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," Ujiri said. "We are thankful for Jason's leadership, his professionalism and his commitment to the team. In my short time here, I've developed an enormous amount of respect for what he has built. He will always be an important part of the Mavericks family."
Mavericks Head Coach Search Begins With Costly Departure
Cutting ties with Kidd doesn't come cheap. According to ESPN's Tim MacMahon, the former head coach still has four years and more than $40 million left on his contract extension. Even so, team governor Patrick Dumont gave Ujiri the authority to make the call and clear the decks for a new direction on the bench.
Ujiri was hired to evaluate the franchise from top to bottom, and this move is the first major step in that process. Dumont had previously seen Kidd as a strong fit to develop young talent, including Rookie of the Year favorite Cooper Flagg, but Ujiri potentially wanted a clean slate, and he got one.
The Mavericks aren't hitting the reset button quietly either. Ujiri made it clear the franchise still sees itself as a championship-level organization and wants a structure built to compete long term. The coaching search will run alongside a broader evaluation of basketball operations as Dallas works to meet the expectations of its fan base.
A new era in Dallas is underway. The next head coach will have Cooper Flagg and a roster in transition waiting for them.
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This story was originally published May 19, 2026 at 7:31 PM.