The Dallas Mavericks and head coach Jason Kidd have reached a mutual decision to separate after five years together, the team revealed on Tuesday.
Kidd’s time leading the franchise produced mixed results, with two seasons of 50 or more victories, highlighted by a Western Conference title in 2023-24. However, that squad fell to the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals, losing the series in five games. The coach also oversaw three seasons with losing records, including a disappointing 25-56 campaign last year.
“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,” Mavericks president Masai 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.”
During his Dallas tenure, Kidd compiled a 205-205 regular season record along with a 22-18 mark in playoff games. His overall coaching record stands at 388-395 in regular season play and 31-33 in postseason contests.
The 53-year-old coach recently received a contract extension in October 2025, leaving four years and more than $40 million still owed on his agreement.
Kidd’s standing with fans deteriorated following the February 2025 trade that sent superstar Luka Doncic elsewhere. While Kidd claimed he only learned about the transaction at “the 11th hour,” he became linked to the move that transformed Dallas from a championship contender into a lottery franchise.
Team leadership indicated their intention to begin an immediate and thorough coaching search.
“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. 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.”
The former point guard enjoyed a distinguished playing career that earned him Hall of Fame recognition and brings a decade of head coaching experience to his resume. He previously guided the Brooklyn Nets to a successful 44-38 season before moving to Milwaukee in 2014. His Milwaukee teams struggled to maintain consistency, achieving a winning record just once (42-40 in 2016-17) before his dismissal during the following campaign.
Following two years as an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas hired Kidd in 2021. He had previously played eight seasons with the Mavericks during a 19-year career that included 10 All-Star selections.
Kidd experienced early success upon returning to Dallas, guiding the team to a 52-30 record and Western Conference finals berth in his first season. The strong performance, fueled by Doncic’s excellence and two playoff series victories, earned him sixth place in Coach of the Year voting.
After the Finals run two seasons later, he placed ninth in that same award consideration.
