The Dallas Mavericks believe internally that Jason Kidd will remain with the team despite reported interest in the head coach from the New York Knicks, sources told Christian Clark and Sam Amick of The Athletic.
Though the Knicks are apparently considering Kidd as a possible successor to Tom Thibodeau, Dallas reportedly continues to tell important personnel that the 52-year-old will be back on their bench in 2025-26. Veteran NBA coach Jay Triano, who on Tuesday accepted a role as an assistant with the Mavericks, was told by general manager Nico Harrison during their meetings that Kidd would be returning, a source told Clark and Amick.
New York requested to interview Kidd on Wednesday but was firmly rejected by Dallas, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania.
Kidd, whose contract has two seasons left, has coached Dallas for four years, leading them to two conference finals and a Finals appearance in 2024. He holds further historical significance to the franchise as the starting point guard of its 2011 championship squad, Dallas' only title in franchise history. Kidd played a combined seven seasons of his 19-year career with the Mavericks, winning Rookie of the Year in 1995 before returning for a second stint in a 2008 midseason trade from the New Jersey Nets.
However, Kidd has left the Mavericks for the Knicks before. As a free agent late in his career in 2012, he reportedly reversed course on a commitment to re-sign in Dallas and instead signed with New York, which was attempting to build a contending roster around Carmelo Anthony. He's also familiar with Knicks All-Star guard Jalen Brunson, whom he coached for one season in Dallas - the latter's final campaign with the Mavericks before signing a four-year deal worth more than $100 million with the Knicks in 2023.
