A stunning organizational overhaul sends the Hall of Famer packing — just months after signing a contract extension.
In a sudden change of direction, Jason Kidd is out as the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks. The team announced that both sides mutually agreed to part ways. The announcement, made on May 19, 2026, sent shockwaves across the NBA world.
The Dallas Mavericks parted ways with Kidd just months after signing him to a multiyear contract extension and shortly after hiring Masai Ujiri to lead basketball operations. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Mavericks want a "clean slate" under new team president Masai Ujiri.
In his statement, Mavericks President Masai Ujiri acknowledged Kidd's contributions, saying: "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. We are thankful for Jason's leadership, his professionalism and his commitment to the team."
In his five years as Dallas head coach, Kidd posted a 205–205 record, leading the team to the Western Conference Finals in his first year and the NBA Finals in 2024. However, the team missed the playoffs the past two years following the controversial trade of Luka Doncic to the Lakers for a package centered around Anthony Davis.
Kidd had been under fire since the Luka Doncic trade in 2025, as his role in the deal was always questionable. Most inside sources say that Kidd didn't officially find out until the last hour, but that he likely said something along the way that would have made Nico Harrison comfortable with trading the superstar.
The Mavericks said they will immediately begin a comprehensive search for their next head coach. One name to watch in Dallas is Billy Donovan, who stepped away as the Chicago Bulls coach looking for a job where he could coach a team in more meaningful games. Meanwhile, the task of developing 2025 No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg — who won the Kia Rookie of the Year award — will now fall to someone new.
Jason Kidd leaves Dallas as both a champion and a complicated figure — a Hall of Famer whose legacy with the Mavericks will forever be tied to one of the most polarizing trades in NBA history. The next chapter for both the franchise and its former coach is only just beginning.
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