Mavericks part ways with head coach Jason Kidd; 'new direction' sought

Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram on May 19, 2026

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FORT WORTH, Texas — The Dallas Mavericks announced Tuesday evening that the team and head coach Jason Kidd have “mutually agreed to part ways” after five seasons, including a trip to the 2024 NBA Finals.

Masai Ujiri, who was recently hired as team president, said now was the time for a new direction for the franchise.

“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 in a statement. “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.”

Kidd leaves a legacy with the franchise as a coach and a player. He was the No. 2 overall draft pick by Dallas and played two stints with the team, including helping the franchise win its only championship in 2011.

As a coach, Kidd took the Mavericks to the Western Conference finals in 2022 and to the NBA Finals in 2024, where they lost to the Boston Celtics in five games.

The team went 26-56 this season with NBA Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg and holds the ninth overall pick in the upcoming NBA draft.

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