Jason Kidd was fired as head coach of the Dallas Mavericks after five seasons, the team announced Tuesday. The decision came shortly after new team president Masai Ujiri took over in early May 2026 [1, 2, 3, 4].
Kidd finished with a 205-205 regular season record during his tenure, leading the Mavericks to the Western Conference Finals in 2022 and the NBA Finals in 2024 [1, 2, 5, 3, 4]. Despite that success, the team missed the playoffs in the past two seasons, including the 2025-26 campaign, finishing with a 26-56 record amid injuries and roster changes [2, 5, 3, 4].
The Mavericks' controversial trade of franchise star Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis in February 2025 was a major factor in organizational upheaval. The trade backfired on Dallas and led to the firing of general manager Nico Harrison in November 2025 [1, 2, 5, 3, 4]. Kidd denied prior knowledge or involvement in the deal, saying he was kept out of the loop until the last moment [1, 2].
Kidd still had four years and over $40 million remaining on his contract when he was dismissed [1, 5]. Previously, Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont had extended Kidd’s contract twice and declined requests from the New York Knicks to interview him [1, 5]. Kidd had also expressed interest in being promoted to president of basketball operations but was told he would not be considered for the role [1].
New Mavericks president Masai Ujiri called the firing a “very tough decision” but insisted the Luka Dončić trade did not influence the move. He said, “Honestly, that trade has played no part in how I have thought about anything. I'm in no position to criticize or blame or even really investigate some of the things that happened then” [3]. Ujiri added, “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” [4].
Ujiri said the organization seeks a fresh start and a new direction. “As we evaluate the future of our basketball program, we believe this is the right moment for a new direction for our team” he said [1]. He described the coaching search as “open” and committed to exploring all options including both experienced and young coaches: “It’s an open search... no stone unturned” [6].
Assistant coach Sean Sweeney, a former Dallas assistant under Kidd and current Spurs assistant, has emerged as the top candidate to succeed Kidd [5, 6].
The Mavericks are also building around Cooper Flagg, their 2025 No. 1 overall pick and Rookie of the Year, who is viewed as the cornerstone of the franchise’s future [5, 3, 4]. The team holds the No. 9 and No. 30 picks in the 2026 NBA Draft [5].
The Mavericks plan to continue their coaching search and make a new hire soon as they aim to end a recent playoff drought and rebuild the roster under Ujiri's leadership.
