Dallas Mavericks News, NBA 2021-22: Jason Kidd is coming back to Dallas again to succeed the coach he won a championship with as the point guard of the Mavericks 10 years ago.
Rick Carlisle stepped down as coach of the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday, the second major departure for that franchise in as many days.
Carlisle spent 13 seasons in Dallas, leading the Mavericks to the 2011 NBA title. His decision was announced one day after general manager Donnie Nelson and the team agreed to part ways, ending a 24-year run for Nelson as part of the organization.
Carlisle, who took the Indiana job Thursday, gave ESPN gratuitous support of Kidd for his old job because of the impact Carlisle thought Kidd could have on Luka Doncic, the sensational young point guard who carries the hopes of the Mavericks.
The Dallas Mavericks have agreements to hire Hall of Famer Jason Kidd as their new head coach and longtime Nike executive Nico Harrison in a lead basketball operations role, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 25, 2021
Dallas Mavericks News: Replacement for Donnie Nelson found
The Mavericks have also found Nelson’s replacement in Nike executive Nico Harrison, who will carry the titles of GM and president of basketball operations, the person told AP. Harrison was on board with the Kidd hiring, the person said.
It’s already the third head coaching stop for the 48-year-old Kidd, who took Brooklyn to the second round in his debut in 2013-14 before bolting for Milwaukee.
Kidd was fired during his fourth season with the Bucks after first-round exits two of his first three years. He was 139-152 with the Bucks after going 44-38 with the Nets.
Dallas Mavericks News: Jason Kidd’s past experience
Jason Kidd is coming off two seasons on Frank Vogel’s staff with the Los Angeles Lakers, had two stints as a player in Dallas, the second highlighted by the franchise’s only title when he directed the offense that ran through star Dirk Nowitzki.
His career started with the Mavericks as the No. 2 overall pick in the 1994 draft.
Now Kidd’s success in Dallas will depend on how he develops Doncic, a two-time All-Star whose playmaking skills had Carlisle calling him one of the five best players in the world before the coach’s unexpected departure.
Dallas Mavericks: Mavs fire longest-tenured GM- Donnie Nelson after Luka Doncic rift
Dallas becomes the seventh team with a coaching vacancy, joining New Orleans, Washington, Orlando, Indiana, Portland — and Boston, where Carlisle played for the team that won the 1986 NBA title.
Luka Doncic is a strong supporter of Mavs assistant coach Jamahl Mosley. “He’s got the things that are needed for a head coach,” Doncic said after Mosely’s one-game fill-in for a win over the Knicks this season. “He can be the head coach, for sure.”
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) June 17, 2021