The Dallas Mavericks are officially moving on from Jason Kidd after five seasons, ending a turbulent run that began with deep playoff success and closed amid one of the most criticized roster decisions in recent NBA history.
According to ESPN, the franchise announced on Tuesday, May 19, that Kidd and the organization had agreed to part ways following a disastrous 26-56 season that left Dallas out of the playoffs for the second straight year. The move comes only weeks after the Mavericks hired Masai Ujiri as president of basketball operations. In a statement, Ujiri said the organization needed “a new direction” as it tries to rebuild into a long-term contender.
“We have high expectations for this franchise and a responsibility to build a basketball organization capable of sustained championship contention,” Ujiri said.
He also confirmed the Mavericks will conduct a “thorough, disciplined search” for a new head coach while continuing to evaluate the front office and basketball operations staff.
Kidd exits Dallas with a 205-205 regular season record and a 22-18 postseason mark. His tenure included a trip to the Western Conference finals in 2022 and an NBA Finals appearance in 2024.
But the momentum surrounding the franchise unraveled quickly after Mark Cuban sold his controlling stake in the team to Patrick Dumont and the Adelson family in late 2023.
Cuban retained a minority stake but lost operational control, and the organization soon shifted course dramatically.
The defining moment came in February 2025 when Dallas traded Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers in a blockbuster deal centered around Anthony Davis.
The trade sparked immediate backlash across the NBA and placed the franchise under intense scrutiny.
Kidd repeatedly maintained that he was informed about the deal only at “the 11th hour,” later pushing back publicly after Cuban suggested that both the coach and general manager, Nico Harrison, played a role in moving the team’s superstar.
“When are we going to move on?” Kidd said earlier this year after Cuban revisited the trade during a podcast appearance. “We have to move forward. We’re focused on the present and the future.”
The Mavericks never recovered on the court. Davis struggled with injuries before eventually being traded to the Washington Wizards as Dallas pivoted toward a rebuild around No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg.
Harrison, the architect of the Dončić trade, was fired in November. Assistant general manager Matt Riccardi was also dismissed on Tuesday, May 19, while Michael Finley’s future with the franchise remains unclear.
Sources told ESPN that Kidd had interest in transitioning into a front-office leadership role after Harrison’s firing, but ownership declined to consider him for the position. He was also reportedly left out of the process that led to Ujiri’s hiring.
