The New York Knicks are openly pursuing Jason Kidd as their next head coach. Then there’s the matter of their leadership — specifically, they recently fired Tom Thibodeau. Nationally, his priorities and vision led the team to incredible success during his 10-year leadership. Kidd, a former Knicks player and Hall of Fame inductee, has a large and successful coaching background. That experience would certainly make him a tempting choice to the franchise.
Most notably, Kidd finished his illustrious playing career with the Knicks in 2013 after a storied run in the NBA. Upon retirement, he jumped headfirst into coaching. He coached great teams, including the Brooklyn Nets and the Milwaukee Bucks, before taking over the Dallas Mavericks. Under his guidance, the Mavericks reached the NBA Finals last year, showcasing his ability to lead a team at the highest level.
This recent success aside, Kidd’s relationship with the Mavericks has been noteworthy for all the wrong reasons. Multiple reports revealed that one of Dallas general manager Nico Harrison’s first moves was to not run by him the franchise-defining trade of superstar Luka Doncic. This trade to the Los Angeles Lakers occurred early this February. This breakdown in communication may have contributed to Kidd’s precarious standing within the organization. It would seem to be a contributory factor in his likely exit.
As the Knicks narrow their search and this very well may not be the job for Kidd, Josh Hart that is working assiduously in responsible due diligence on candidates. The team previously interviewed Kidd for their head coaching position in 2020, but ultimately hired Thibodeau, who led the Knicks to back-to-back 50-win seasons and a stunning playoff victory over the defending-champion Boston Celtics. Thibodeau has a remarkable .579 winning percentage in the regular season. This is now the most in league history for coaches that have never reached the NBA Finals.
Kidd’s four seasons as the Mavericks’ head coach coincidentally makes him one of the Mavericks’ most successful coach in terms of win percentage (54.6%). His steady hand on the coaching rudder led to awards and wins that gave overwhelming confidence to his franchise. And yet Kidd’s future is very much in doubt. Will Dallas permit him to interview with the Knicks for their head coaching vacancy? Neither Nico Harrison nor Patrick Dumont have responded to this issue.
More importantly, the Knicks have some highly desirable assets that would help them attract and seduce a top coach to Gotham. They have a 2026 pick from the Washington Wizards that’s top-eight protected. They control eight second-round picks, including June’s 50th overall selection. These investments can have an even greater impact on the team’s future. Right now, they’re looking for a leader to guide them back to playoff glory.
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