Former Milwaukee Bucks head coach Jason Kidd was fired after five seasons leading the Dallas Mavericks, let go with more than $40 million left on his contract.
New Mavericks president Masai Ujiri pulled the trigger May 19. Kidd had a record of 205-205 over his five seasons, twice reaching the Western Conference finals (2022, 2024) and once reaching the NBA Finals after the 2024 season.
The Mavericks, of course, made the bold decision to trade Luka Dončić during the 2025 season. Kidd also worked with No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg, who was named the league’s rookie of the year this season, though the Mavericks finished 26-56.
Kidd also spent five seasons in Milwaukee from 2014-18, though he was fired midway through his final season with the Bucks in 2017-18. He went 139-152 during his days with the Bucks, overseeing the rise of Giannis Antetokounmpo into an all-star caliber player. His teams made the playoffs twice, falling in the first round (as did the 2018 team, falling in the first round under interim coach Joe Prunty).
The Basketball Hall of Fame player also spent a year as head coach in Brooklyn (2013-14), a role he assumed immediately after his playing career finished in 2012-13. After that, the Bucks made the surprising move to hire Kidd, parting ways with Larry Drew after just one season. Kidd spent two years as an assistant in Los Angeles between head-coaching gigs.
Overall in his career, his teams have a 388-395 record and a 31-33 mark in the postseason.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Former Milwaukee Bucks coach Jason Kidd fired in Dallas
Reporting by JR Radcliffe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
