Jason Frederick Kidd (born March 23, 1973) is an American professionalbasketball coach and former player who is the head coach for theDallas Mavericks of theNational Basketball Association (NBA). Widely regarded as one of the greatest[under discussion]point guards ever, Kidd was a 10-timeNBA All-Star, a six-timeAll-NBA Team member, and a nine-timeNBA All-Defensive Team member. He won anNBA championship in 2011 as a member of the Dallas Mavericks and was a two-time gold medal winner in theOlympics with theU.S. national team in 2000 and 2008. In 2018, he was inducted as a player into theNaismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame[1][2] along with Steve Nash and Grant Hill. And in 2021, Kidd was honored as one of the league's greatest players by being named to theNBA 75th Anniversary Team.[3]
Kidd playedcollege basketball for theCalifornia Golden Bears and was selected by the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the1994 NBA draft as the second overall pick. He was named co-NBA Rookie of the Year in his first season with the Mavericks, along withGrant Hill. Then, from 1996 to 2001, Kidd played for thePhoenix Suns and later for theNew Jersey Nets from 2001 to 2008. He led the Nets to two consecutiveNBA Finals appearances in2002 and2003. In the middle of the 2007–08 season, Kidd was traded back to Dallas. At age 38, Kidd won his only NBA championship when Dallas defeated theMiami Heat in the2011 finals. He finished his playing career in 2013 with theNew York Knicks. The following season, he became the head coach of the Nets, who had relocated from New Jersey to Brooklyn. After one season, he was traded to theMilwaukee Bucks, where he coached for four seasons until he was fired mid-season in 2018. After a season off, he was an assistant coach for theLos Angeles Lakers, with whom he won an NBA championship in2020; he reunited with the Mavericks organization in2021 to become the franchise's head coach, reaching the Western Conference finals in his first season and later the2024 NBA Finals in his third season.
Kidd's ability topass andrebound made him a regulartriple-double threat, and he retired ranked third for a career in the NBA for regular season triple-doubles with 107[4] and third in playoff triple-doubles with a career total of 11.[5] He ranks third on both the NBA all-time list incareer assists and the NBA all-time list incareer steals.[6]
Kidd was born in San Francisco, and raised in an upper middle class section ofOakland. His father, Steve, is African-American,[7] and his mother, Anne, is Irish-American.[8] As a youth, Kidd was highly scouted forAAU teams and tourneys, garnering various all-star and MVP awards. He attended theEast Oakland Youth Development Center and frequented the city courts of Oakland, where he often found himself pitted against futureBasketball Hall of FamerGary Payton.
AtSt. Joseph Notre Dame High School inAlameda,[9] under the guidance of coach Frank LaPorte, Kidd led the Pilots to consecutive state championships, averaging 25 points, 10 assists, 7 rebounds and 7 steals his senior season. During that year, he also received a host of individual honors, including theNaismith Award as the nation's top high school player, and was named Player of the Year byPARADE as well asUSA Today. The all-time prep leader in assists (1,155) and the state's seventh-highest career scorer (2,661 points), Kidd was voted California Player of the Year for the second time and also aMcDonald's All-American. On January 31, 2012, Kidd was honored as one of the 35 GreatestMcDonald's All Americans.[10]
After a highly publicized recruiting process, Kidd shocked many fans and pundits alike by choosing to attend the nearbyUniversity of California, Berkeley—a school that was coming off a 10–18 season and had not won a conference title since 1960—over a number of top-ranked collegiate programs including theUniversity of Arizona,University of Kentucky,University of Kansas, andOhio State University.[11]
In his first year playing for the Golden Bears, Kidd averaged 13.0 points, 7.7 assists, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.8 steals per game which earned him national Freshman of the Year honors and a spot on theAll-Pac-10 team. His 110 steals set an NCAA record for most steals by a freshman and set a school record for most steals in a season, while his 220 assists that season was also a school record. His play was also a key factor in the resurgence of Cal basketball and helped the Golden Bears earn anNCAA Tournament bid, where they upset two-time defending national championDuke in the second round of that tournament before losing to Kansas in the Sweet 16.
Kidd continued his success as a sophomore, tallying averages of 16.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.1 steals and 9.1 assists, breaking his previous school record for most assists in a season with 272, while also leading the nation in that category. He was also selected a First TeamAll-American, the first Cal player to be so named since 1968, as well as Pac-10 Player of the Year, becoming the first sophomore to receive that honor. The Golden Bears made theNCAA Tournament again as a fifth seed, but was upset in the first round byDick Bennett'sWisconsin–Green Bay team 61–57. Kidd was also named a finalist for both the Naismith and Wooden Awards as college basketball's top player and subsequently opted to enter theNBA draft in 1994. In 2004, Cal retired Kidd's number 5 jersey.
Kidd was selected as the second overall pick by theDallas Mavericks, behindGlenn Robinson ofPurdue, and just ahead ofDuke'sGrant Hill. In his first year, he averaged 11.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 7.7 assists, and led the NBA in triple doubles, sharing 1995NBA Rookie of the Year honors with Hill of theDetroit Pistons.[12] The year before the Mavericks drafted Kidd, they finished the season with the worst record in the NBA at 13–69. After Kidd's first season with the Mavericks, their record improved to 36–46 which, at 23 games, was the largest improvement in the NBA.
In the following season Kidd was voted a starter in the 1996 All-Star Game. In his first two years with the Mavericks, the move most people associated him with was "the baseball pass". Kidd was a member of the "Three J's" in Dallas along withJim Jackson andJamal Mashburn. After promising beginnings, things turned sour among the trio. Mashburn's injury combined with deteriorated personal relations between the immature leaders of the team resulted in the Mavericks taking a step backwards instead of further development. Kidd's continued problems with the coaches affected the Mavericks' decision to trade their young star just in his third season in the league.[13]
Kidd was traded to thePhoenix Suns withTony Dumas andLoren Meyer forMichael Finley,A.C. Green, andSam Cassell during the1996–97 season.[14][15] In his first full season with the Suns in1997–98, the team's win total improved by 16 games.[16] The Suns, who finished the season with a 56–26 record, had been recognized for their fast-paced style of play with Kidd frequently leading asmall lineup of four guards (Kidd,Kevin Johnson,Rex Chapman andSteve Nash) being on the floor at the same time together withAntonio McDyess playing at center.[17] In the playoffs, Phoenix was eliminated in the first round by theSan Antonio Spurs led by theirTwin Towers duo,David Robinson andTim Duncan.
In the1998–99 season, Kidd averaged 10.8 assists per game to dethrone Washington'sRod Strickland as the league's assists leader. He also led the NBA with seven triple-doubles (the rest of the league had just 11) and was second in the NBA with 41.2 minutes per game (behind Allen Iverson's 41.5 mpg). Kidd averaged career highs in points (16.9 ppg), field goal percentage (.444), rebounds (6.8 rpg, best among NBA guards) and steals (2.28 spg, fourth in the NBA) and was the only player to be ranked among the top 50 in the NBA in 10 different statistical categories. The Suns won all seven of the games in which he had triple-doubles.[18]
The Suns acquiredPenny Hardaway from theOrlando Magic before the start of the1999–00 season in hope of creating the best backcourt duo in the league. The combination of Kidd and Hardaway in the starting lineup was often labeled as theBackCourt 2000.[19] Despite a decent 53–29 record, the Suns' season was spoiled by injuries to both of their superstars. Kidd, who broke his ankle late in the regular season, returned during the playoffs to help his team to beat the defending champion San Antonio Spurs and advance to the second round for the first time in his career. The Spurs were missingTim Duncan because he injured hismeniscus shortly before the end of the regular season and was unable to play in the playoffs.[20]
The2000–01 season was affected by Kidd's personal problems as he was charged with domestic abuse of his wife.[21] The Suns, who struggled in the middle part of the season, finished strongly with a 15–6 record to secure another 50-win season. Kidd took on more of the offensive load after his teammates encouraged him to be more selfish. He recorded 30-plus points six times on the year and five times in the last 19 games. In one particular hot stretch, he scored 36, 32, and 31 in three consecutive games in mid-March, prior to which he had never recorded consecutive 30-point games.[22]
During his stay in Phoenix, Kidd made theAll-Star Game in 1998, 2000, and 2001 (in 1999 it was not held because of a lockout) and led the NBA in assists for three consecutive years (1999–2001). It was also with the Suns that Kidd rose to the status of the league's best playmaker as he was voted to theAll-NBA First Team andNBA All-Defensive Team three years in a row (1999–2001).
On June 28, 2001, after five seasons in Phoenix in which the team made the playoffs each year, Kidd was traded, along withChris Dudley, to theNew Jersey Nets forStephon Marbury,Johnny Newman, andSoumaila Samake. Kidd joined the franchise as the team was constructed around a sophomoreKenyon Martin, veteransKerry Kittles andKeith Van Horn, along with rookiesRichard Jefferson,Jason Collins, andBrandon Armstrong coming from the draft-day trade for the seventh pickEddie Griffin.[23] The2001–02 season saw Kidd lead the Nets to a 52–30 finish, a 26-game improvement from the season before and the first 50-win season in the franchise's NBA history.[16] He was voted to theAll-NBA First Team and finished second to the Spurs'Tim Duncan inMVP voting.[24]
Under Kidd's guidance, the young Nets team prospered through the playoffs, won the Eastern Conference title and advanced to the franchise's first-ever appearance in theNBA Finals. Along the way, they had some memorable moments including a double overtime victory against theIndiana Pacers in the decisive Game 5. Indiana'sReggie Miller forced the first overtime with a 35-foot three-pointer at the buzzer and the second one with a two-handed dunk, but the Nets eventually survived and beat Indiana 120–109. Kidd scored 20 of his then playoffs-best 31 points in the fourth quarter and overtimes.[25] After defeating theCharlotte Hornets 4–1 in the second round, the Nets then faced the Boston Celtics in the conference finals. In that series Kidd and the Nets experienced the biggest fourth quarter collapse in the playoffs' history, when the Celtics came back from a 21-point deficit to win the pivotal Game 3, taking a 2–1 series lead.[26] However, the Nets then won three consecutive games, while Kidd averaged a triple double for the entire series.[27] In the NBA Finals, the Nets were swept in four games byShaquille O'Neal andKobe Bryant'sLos Angeles Lakers.
New Jersey enjoyed another stellar season under Kidd's leadership in the2002–03 season, during which the team finished 49–33 and reached the NBA finals once again. Kidd had his highest scoring season with 18.7 points per game[28] and led the league in assists with 8.9 per game. This time Kidd was selected to theAll-NBA Second Team. In the playoffs after splitting the first four games with theMilwaukee Bucks, the Nets recorded a 10-game winning streak, while sweeping the Celtics and theDetroit Pistons on the way to their second consecutive NBA Finals.[29] In theFinals, New Jersey lost toTim Duncan'sSan Antonio Spurs in six games, even though the series was tied after the first four games.
As an unrestricted free agent in the 2003 offseason, there was speculation that Kidd would join the defending champion Spurs and replaceTony Parker as their starting point guard. Parker, then young and unproven, was perceived to have "limitations" in his game that Kidd did not.[30] However, Kidd decided to stay with the Nets on a 6-year, $99 million deal.[31] In the2003–04 season, Kidd averaged 15.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 9.2 assists (leading the league in assists for the second year in a row). The Nets led by Kidd finished the season 47–35 as their leader was voted to theAll-NBA First Team for the fifth time in his career. In the playoffs however, they lost in the conference semifinals in a seven-game series against theDetroit Pistons, the eventual champions. Kidd went scoreless in the decisive Game 7 while playing with a serious knee injury.[32]
On July 1, 2004, Kidd underwentmicrofracture surgery to repair a damaged knee. He made a full recovery and returned to the court for the2004–05 season in December, during which the Nets acquired star swingmanVince Carter from theToronto Raptors. With the Nets hanging on the prospect of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2001 and with Jefferson injured, Carter and Kidd combined to fuel the team to a late regular season surge that enabled them to inch past theCleveland Cavaliers for the eighth and final playoff berth in the East. The Nets were eliminated in four games to the top-seededMiami Heat in the first round.
In the2005–06 season, Kidd averaged 13.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 8.4 assists. He and Carter led the Nets to a third-place finish in the East with a 49–33 record to clinch their fourth Atlantic Division title in the last five seasons. In April the Nets recorded NBA season-best winning streak, which was ended by the Cleveland Cavaliers at 14 wins in a row. Kidd was named to theNBA All-Defensive First Team for the fourth time in his career. In the playoffs the Nets beat the Indiana Pacers in six games in the first round, but later in the conference semifinal they were defeated again by the Miami Heat, the eventual champions.
Kidd was named a reserve for the NBAAll-Star game along with teammateVince Carter during the2006–07 season. However, Kidd missed the game because of a strained back and was replaced on the roster byJoe Johnson.[33] On April 7, 2007, Kidd and Carter became the first teammates to record triple-doubles in the same game sinceMichael Jordan andScottie Pippen did it in 1989 for theChicago Bulls. In the first round of the2006–07 postseason Kidd averaged 14.0 points, 13.2 assists, 10.0 rebounds, and 2.0 steals, as the Nets defeated theToronto Raptors in six games. He joinedWilt Chamberlain andMagic Johnson as the only players in NBA history to average a triple-double in multiple playoff series.[34] For the postseason, Kidd averaged 14.6 points, 10.9 assists and 10.9 rebounds in twelve playoff games.[35] He became the second player in NBA history to average a triple-double for an entire postseason.[36] Despite Kidd's efforts the Nets were eliminated in six games in the Eastern Conference semifinals by theCleveland Cavaliers.
In the2007–08 season, Kidd became the third player to get a triple-double in three straight games since 1989. He did so after he logged his 97th career triple-double in a 115–99 loss to theCharlotte Bobcats.[37] Kidd was voted by the fans to start in the 2008 All-Star game in New Orleans as a guard along withDwyane Wade. During that season Kidd had been mentioned in trade rumors, notably to theLos Angeles Lakers, but the deal fell through when the Lakers refused to give up their young centerAndrew Bynum. On January 28, 2008, Kidd revealed that his agent had been talking to the Nets' front office about a trade. On February 19, 2008, Kidd was traded[38] to theDallas Mavericks, the team that originally drafted him.
On February 13, 2008, theDallas Mavericks andNew Jersey Nets reached an agreement on a trade to send Kidd andMalik Allen to Dallas forDevin Harris,Devean George,Jerry Stackhouse,DeSagana Diop,Maurice Ager, two first-round drafts picks (in2008 and2010), and $3 million, but the trade fell through when George invoked his(Early) Bird rights, as was stipulated in his contract at the time.[39][40] The trade was retooled, withTrenton Hassell replacing George, andKeith Van Horn, who had agreed to come out of retirement, replacing Stackhouse, because NBA officials informed the Mavericks that if Stackhouse were to be included in the deal, he could not re-sign with the team if the Nets chose to buy out his contract.[41]Antoine Wright was also added to the retooled trade proposal (the two teams originally agreed on a separate deal that would have sent Wright to the Mavericks for a 2008 second-round pick, but were ultimately able include him in the Kidd deal).[42] On February 19, 2008, Kidd was traded to the Mavericks along with Allen and Wright for Van Horn (via a sign and trade deal), Harris, Diop, Hassell, Ager, $3 million, and first round picks in 2008 and 2010.[43][44][45]
The Mavericks hoped that Kidd would provide leadership to the team that for years had been labelled as weak mentally and help Dallas and its franchise-playerDirk Nowitzki win their first ever NBA championship.[44] The Mavericks made a strong playoff push following the trade, but despite a 51–31 record, they were only able to secure the seventh seed in the highly competitive Western Conference. Inthe playoffs, they facedChris Paul'sNew Orleans Hornets, and were eliminated in five games in the first round.
The following2008–09 season saw Kidd and the Mavericks stumble out to a rocky start, losing eight out of the first 15 games; however, the team finished the season strong to earn the sixth seed in the playoffs with a 50–32 record. Kidd finished the season ranked third in the league in steals with 2.0 per game, his best average in six years. In the playoffs, the Mavericks upset theSan Antonio Spurs, with Kidd leading the team in assists in all but one game; the Mavericks reached the conference semifinals for the first time since 2006. Kidd's season ended there as the Mavs lost to theDenver Nuggets in five games.
On July 5, 2009, Kidd verbally committed to re-signing with the Mavericks after being pursued heavily by theNew York Knicks. The three-year deal reportedly was worth more than $25 million, all of it fully guaranteed.[46] In the first year of Kidd's new contract in the2009–10 season the Mavericks finished second in the Western Conference with a 55–27 record during the regular season. However, the season ended with another disappointment as the Mavericks lost in six games to the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the2010 NBA playoffs. It was rumored that Kidd had gone through a flu just before the series began which might have affected his physical condition. He did not speak to reporters after Games 5 and 6 and skipped the team's final meeting.[47]
Kiddwon the NBA championship with the Dallas Mavericks on June 12, 2011, defeating NBA All-StarsLeBron James,Dwyane Wade, andChris Bosh and theMiami Heat. After appearing and losing in two different NBA finals, it was the first and only championship in his career. Despite a mid-season injury to Dirk Nowitzki, and a season-ending surgery to their starting small forwardCaron Butler, the2010–11 season turned out to be the best for the Mavs in Kidd's era as they finished the regular season with a 57–25 record. On February 4, Kidd hit a three-pointer with 2.5 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to give the Mavs a win in Boston over the Celtics, extending their winning streak to seven games.[48]
Kidd sparked the Mavericks' impressive run with a total of 42 points in the first two playoff games against thePortland Trail Blazers.[49] Dallas won the series 4–2. The Mavs then swept the two-time defending championLos Angeles Lakers, with Kidd successfully guardingKobe Bryant in decisive moments of close games 1 and 3.[50] In the Western Conference finals against theOklahoma City Thunder, Kidd was partly responsible for guarding young and athletic superstarsKevin Durant andRussell Westbrook. Kidd hit a tie-breaking three-pointer late in overtime in a Game 4 victory atOklahoma City to give his team a 3–1 lead.[51] Dallas defeated Oklahoma in five games. In the NBA Finals, the Mavericks defeated the Miami Heat in six games, despite trailing the Heat two games to one at one point. At various points, Kidd was called upon to defend superstars Dwyane Wade and LeBron James.[52] Kidd averaged 9.3 points, 7.3 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game during the Mavericks' 21-game championship run. At 38 years of age, he became the oldest starting point guard ever to lead his team to the championship.[53]
Shortened by a lockout, the2011–12 season turned out to be the last for Kidd in the Mavericks uniform. With 39-year-old Kidd averaging career lows in minutes, points and assists for the regular season, the defending champions were swept by theOklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the2012 NBA playoffs. On May 3, 2012, Kidd won his firstNBA Sportsmanship Award.
On July 12, 2012, Kidd signed with theNew York Knicks.[54] After making a verbal commitment to re-sign with the Mavericks, Kidd changed his mind and decided to sign a 3-year deal with the Knicks.[55] Kidd was expected to act as a mentor toJeremy Lin but after Lin left to theHouston Rockets, it was assumed that Kidd would serve as a backup toRaymond Felton at the point guard position.[56] During the preseason however, the Knicks head coachMike Woodson decided to start the season with both playmakers in the starting lineup and Kidd adjusting more to the shooting guard role.
With the new backcourt duo in the lineup, the Knicks opened the2012–13 season with an 18–5 record while Kidd averaged 9.0 points per game on 44 percent three-point shooting in the first two months of the season. Nearly 40 years old, Kidd was asked to play almost 33 minutes per game in December. New York finished the season with 54 wins, an 18-game jump from the previous season. It was their first 50-win season since1999–2000. The Knicks advanced to the second round of the playoffs, but lost to theIndiana Pacers in six games. Kidd struggled during the playoffs, when he was held without a field goal in his last 10 playoff games.[16] It was believed that overworking Kidd during the regular season had strongly affected his performance in the second half of the season and left him burned out for the playoffs.[57][58] Kidd retired on June 3, 2013, after one season with the Knicks and 19 seasons in the NBA. His announcement came two days after 1995 co-Rookie of the YearGrant Hill retired.[16]
On June 12, 2013, Kidd was named head coach of theBrooklyn Nets, replacing interim coachP. J. Carlesimo.[59] He is the third person since theABA–NBA merger to debut as an NBA head coach the season after he retired as a player.[a][60] In September 2013, Kidd bought a minority ownership stake in the team (fromJay-Z).[61]
On October 17, 2013, the Nets retired and raised his number 5 jersey to the rafters before a preseason game against theMiami Heat.[62]
Kidd was suspended for the first two games of the season after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor DWI charge stemming from an incident in July 2012.[63]Joe Prunty served as acting head coach for the team's season opener inCleveland and their home opener againstMiami.[64] He made his debut as head coach on November 3 in a loss to theOrlando Magic. On November 5, Kidd had his first victory as head coach in a 104–88 win over theUtah Jazz. On November 28, Kidd was fined $50,000 by the NBA for instructing his playerTyshawn Taylor to bump into him and intentionally spilling a cup of soda on the court in order to stop the game so his team could draw up a last-second offensive play against the Lakers.[65]
After a loss to theChicago Bulls on Christmas Day, the Nets dropped to a disappointing 9–19 record. Many critics started to question Kidd's ability to manage a group of veterans that includedKevin Garnett,Paul Pierce, andJoe Johnson and there even appeared to be rumors that Kidd might be on his way out before the end of the season.[66] However, the Nets were able to turn things around at the beginning of 2014 and finished the season with a 44–38 record, while Kidd began to get recognition for his coaching skills.
On February 3, 2014, Kidd was named the Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for January.[67] On April 1, 2014, he was named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month a second time for March.[68] He became the fourth coach overall to win both Player of the Month and Coach of the Month honors. He also became the second coach, afterJeff Hornacek of thePhoenix Suns, to win both honors with the same team.[69]
In the first round of the2014 NBA playoffs, the Brooklyn Nets eliminated the Toronto Raptors in a 7-game series. Kidd is the 19th rookie head coach in the league's history to coach his team in a decisive Game 7 on the road, and became the first one to win it.[70] In the semifinals, the Nets faced theMiami Heat and lost the series 4–1.
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On July 1, 2014, theMilwaukee Bucks secured Kidd's coaching rights from the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for two second-round draft picks in 2015 and 2019.[71] The move did not come without controversy, as it was reported that Kidd had been seeking more management power over the Nets' general managerBilly King and after being denied began talks with the Bucks even though they still had a coach under contract inLarry Drew.[72] He later stated that he felt the Nets truly did not want him nor were they committed to building a contender.[73] In his return to Brooklyn on November 19, 2014, he was greeted with heavy boos and jeers.[74]
The Bucks were one of the biggest surprises of the2014–15 season. Under Kidd's guidance, the young team improved from franchise-worst 15 wins in theprevious season, finishing with a 41–41 record to advance to the playoffs as the 6th seed in the Eastern Conference. Milwaukee achieved that feat despite losing their 2nd draft pick overallJabari Parker in December to a knee injury and trading star guardBrandon Knight to thePhoenix Suns in February. Kidd is the first coach in NBA history to lead two franchises to the playoffs in his first two years as a head coach.[75] Kidd finished third in voting for theCoach of the Year Award behindMike Budenholzer andSteve Kerr.[76]
The2015–16 season was less successful for Kidd, as the Bucks finished with a 33–49 record and did not qualify to the playoffs. On December 20, 2015, it was reported that Kidd would be out indefinitely as he would undergo hip surgery on December 21. While Kidd was recovering, his assistantJoe Prunty was acting as an interim coach.[77] On a positive note, Kidd moved rising 21-year oldGiannis Antetokounmpo into a point guard position, which helped the young player to record five triple doubles in the season and make progress in most statistical categories. Despite the disappointing season, the Bucks owners issued Kidd a vote of confidence and mentioned a possible contract extension, which was set to expire after the next season.[78]
The following season Kidd led the Bucks to a winning record as they qualified to the playoffs for the second time in three years. Kidd had his projected starting unit available for just several minutes during the season. On February 9, the same day the shooting guardKhris Middleton was making his season debut after recovering from a hamstring injury, the power forward Jabari Parker went down with an ACL injury.[79] Despite the setback, Kidd had the Bucks finishing the season strong with a 42–40 record. In the first round of the playoffs against the Toronto Raptors, the Bucks took a 2–1 lead after game 3, but went on to lose the series in six games. On January 22, 2018, the Bucks fired Kidd after the team posted a 23–22 record midway through the2017–18 season.[80]
On July 31, 2019, Kidd was hired as an assistant coach by theLos Angeles Lakers.[81][82] Kidd would go on to win his second NBA championship when the Lakers defeated theMiami Heat in 6 games in the2020 NBA Finals. It was his first championship as a coach at any level.
On June 28, 2021, Kidd was hired as the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks following longtime head coachRick Carlisle's resignation.[83] During the 2021–22 season, Kidd helped lead the Mavericks to a regular season record of 52–30, which earned them the fourth seed in the Western Conference standings.[84] This was the Mavericks' highest win total since the 2014–15 season when they finished 50–32, and their highest standings finish since the 2010–11 season, when Kidd was a player for the Mavericks team that finished as the third seed. In his first season as head coach, Kidd oversaw a defensive renaissance in Dallas, transforming a team that was among the worst defenses in the league prior to his tenure, into one of the top units in the NBA. Under Kidd, the Mavericks won their first two playoff series since their 2011 NBA championship when they defeated theUtah Jazz in six games in the first round of the2022 NBA playoffs[85] and thePhoenix Suns in seven games in the second round, advancing to the Western Conference finals.[86] Kidd, along with Mavericks general managerNico Harrison has been credited with improving the organizational culture and creating an environment more favorable to players than was present under former coachRick Carlisle. Dallas' run was halted in the Western Conference finals as they fell short to theGolden State Warriors in five games.[87]
The2022–23 season was less successful for Kidd, as the Mavericks finished with a 38–44 record and failed to qualify for the playoffs. However, Kidd was instrumental in bringingKyrie Irving to Dallas from the Brooklyn Nets, further improving the team for future success. On May 6, 2024, Mavericks signed Kidd to a multi-year contract extension.[88] In 2024, following a season where the Mavericks failed to reach the playoffs, Kidd led the Mavericks to their firstNBA finals appearance since their 2011 championship-winning playoff run, where they beat the fourth-seedLos Angeles Clippers 4–2 in the first round, top-seedOklahoma City Thunder 4–2 in the second round, and the third-seedMinnesota Timberwolves 4–1 in the Western Conference Finals. In the Finals, the Mavericks lost to theBoston Celtics in five games.[89]
Kidd's first participation in USA basketball came after his first season in college. He was the only freshman chosen to take part in Team USA's 10-member team. The team played five games in Europe and finished with a record of 3–2. Kidd tied for team highs in assists per game with 4.0, and steals per game with 1.4. He also had averages of 8.4 points per game, and 4.2 rebounds per game.
Kidd's next stint with USA basketball came in 1999 where he participated in the USA Olympic Qualifying Tournament. The team finished with an undefeated record of 10–0 resulting in a gold medal and earning a berth at the 2000 Olympics. Kidd averaged 7.4 ppg, 6.8 apg, 4.4 rpg, 2.7 spg, and again led the team in APG and SPG.
In 2000, Kidd was appointed as one of Team USA's tri-captains for the2000 Olympics at Sydney. Kidd again led the team to an undefeated record of 8–0 which resulted in team USA winning the gold medal at the Olympic Games. Kidd had averages of 6.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg, and had team highs of 4.4 apg, and 1.1 spg. Kidd also had a FG% of 51.6 and shot 50 percent from three-point range.
In November 2002, Kidd was selected to participate in the 2002 USA Basketball Men's World Championship Team. However, he had to withdraw from the team due to an injury.
Kidd came back the next year and participated at the 2003 FIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament inPuerto Rico. Kidd again led the team to a record of 10–0, bringing home the gold medal and a berth at the 2004 Olympics. Kidd started all 10 games and had averages of 3.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 5.9 apg, and 1.2 spg.
However, Kidd again had to withdraw from the2004 Olympic team due to another injury.
In 2007, Kidd participated in theFIBA Americas Championship 2007. Kidd helped the team to a 10–0 record where he brought home another gold medal and a berth at the2008 Olympics inBeijing, China. Kidd had averages of 1.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 4.6 apg, and 1.3 spg. He also shot 60% from the field and 62.5% from three-point distance. Kidd led the entire tournament with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 9.20. With Kidd's help team USA averaged 116.7 ppg, and defeated their opponents by a margin of 39.5 ppg.
In 2008, Kidd participated in the 2008 Olympics where the team yet again went undefeated in winning their first gold medal since the 2000 Olympics.[95] The team, given the "Redeem team" moniker because of failures in the2002 FIBA World Championship,2004 Summer Olympics and2006 FIBA World Championship, were once again crowned to be the best team in world basketball.
Overall, Kidd brought home five gold medals as member of the national team: three from Olympic qualifying tournaments, one from the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and one from the 2008 Beijing Olympics.[96]
Kidd retired second all-time in NBA history in both assists and steals behindJohn Stockton. He led the NBA in assists five times. His 107 career triple-doubles are sixth all-time, trailingRussell Westbrook,Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson,Nikola Jokić, and LeBron James. Kidd finished his career with averages of 12.6 points, 8.7 assists, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.9 steals in 1,391 regular season games.[16] He impacted games with his accurate passes and by involving his teammates; scoring was not his focus.[97] He is considered by many to be one of the best rebounding guards ever to play in the league,[98][99][100] andESPN called him "one of the best passing and rebounding point guards in NBA history."[16] In 2021, to commemorate the NBA's 75th AnniversaryThe Athletic ranked their top 75 players of all time, and named Kidd as the 36th greatest player in NBA history.[101]
Although Kidd was considered a poor outside shooter when he began his pro career, he retired ranked third all-time in the NBA inthree-point field goals made.[102]The New York Times called his improvement as a shooter "perhaps Kidd's biggest, and most surprising, transformation".[97] He considered his NBA championship with Dallas and his two gold medals in the Olympics as tied for the top highlights of his career, followed by the co-Rookie of the Year he shared with Grant Hill.[16]
Kidd married his first wife,Joumana, in 1997. In January 2001, he was arrested and pled guilty to adomestic abuse charge for assaulting her. As part of his plea, Kidd was ordered to attendanger management classes for six months. Kidd completed the mandatory counseling and continued to attend on his own. On January 9, 2007, Kidd filed for divorce, citing "extreme cruelty" during their relationship. He contended intense jealousy, paranoia and the threat of "false domestic abuse claims" to the police as reasons for the divorce. On February 15, 2007, Joumana Kidd filed a counterclaim for divorce,[103] claiming that Jason, among instances of abuse, "broke her rib and damaged her hearing by smashing her head into the console of a car." The couple has three children.[104][105]
On September 10, 2011, Kidd married Porschla Coleman, a former model.[106]
On July 15, 2012, Kidd was arrested by police inSouthampton Town, New York and charged with the misdemeanor of driving while intoxicated.[107] According to police, around 2 a.m. Kidd's vehicle struck a telephone pole a few blocks away from his home and ended up in the woods, where officers determined him to be under the influence.[108]
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| † | Won anNBA championship | * | Led the league |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994–95 | Dallas | 79 | 79 | 33.8 | .385 | .272 | .698 | 5.4 | 7.7 | 1.9 | .3 | 11.7 |
| 1995–96 | Dallas | 81 | 81 | 37.5 | .381 | .336 | .692 | 6.8 | 9.7 | 2.2 | .3 | 16.6 |
| 1996–97 | Dallas | 22 | 22 | 36.0 | .369 | .323 | .667 | 4.1 | 9.1 | 2.0 | .4 | 9.9 |
| Phoenix | 33 | 23 | 35.5 | .423 | .400 | .688 | 4.8 | 9.0 | 2.4 | .4 | 11.6 | |
| 1997–98 | Phoenix | 82* | 82* | 38.0 | .416 | .313 | .799 | 6.2 | 9.1 | 2.0 | .3 | 11.6 |
| 1998–99 | Phoenix | 50* | 50* | 41.2 | .444 | .366 | .757 | 6.8 | 10.8* | 2.3 | .4 | 16.9 |
| 1999–00 | Phoenix | 67 | 67 | 39.0 | .409 | .337 | .829 | 7.2 | 10.1* | 2.0 | .4 | 14.3 |
| 2000–01 | Phoenix | 77 | 76 | 39.8 | .411 | .297 | .814 | 6.4 | 9.8* | 2.2 | .3 | 16.9 |
| 2001–02 | New Jersey | 82 | 82 | 37.3 | .391 | .321 | .814 | 7.3 | 9.9 | 2.1 | .2 | 14.7 |
| 2002–03 | New Jersey | 80 | 80 | 37.4 | .414 | .341 | .841 | 6.3 | 8.9* | 2.2 | .3 | 18.7 |
| 2003–04 | New Jersey | 67 | 66 | 36.6 | .384 | .321 | .827 | 6.4 | 9.2* | 1.8 | .2 | 15.5 |
| 2004–05 | New Jersey | 66 | 65 | 36.9 | .398 | .360 | .740 | 7.4 | 8.3 | 1.9 | .1 | 14.4 |
| 2005–06 | New Jersey | 80 | 80 | 37.2 | .404 | .352 | .795 | 7.3 | 8.4 | 1.9 | .4 | 13.3 |
| 2006–07 | New Jersey | 80 | 80 | 36.7 | .406 | .343 | .778 | 8.2 | 9.2 | 1.6 | .3 | 13.0 |
| 2007–08 | New Jersey | 51 | 51 | 37.2 | .366 | .356 | .820 | 8.1 | 10.4 | 1.5 | .3 | 11.3 |
| Dallas | 29 | 29 | 34.9 | .426 | .461 | .815 | 6.5 | 9.5 | 2.1 | .4 | 9.9 | |
| 2008–09 | Dallas | 81 | 81 | 35.6 | .416 | .406 | .819 | 6.2 | 8.7 | 2.0 | .5 | 9.0 |
| 2009–10 | Dallas | 80 | 80 | 36.0 | .423 | .425 | .808 | 5.6 | 9.1 | 1.8 | .4 | 10.3 |
| 2010–11† | Dallas | 80 | 80 | 33.2 | .361 | .340 | .870 | 4.4 | 8.2 | 1.7 | .4 | 7.9 |
| 2011–12 | Dallas | 48 | 48 | 28.7 | .363 | .354 | .786 | 4.1 | 5.5 | 1.7 | .2 | 6.2 |
| 2012–13 | New York | 76 | 48 | 26.9 | .372 | .351 | .833 | 4.3 | 3.3 | 1.6 | .3 | 6.0 |
| Career | 1,391 | 1,350 | 36.0 | .400 | .349 | .785 | 6.3 | 8.7 | 1.9 | .3 | 12.6 | |
| All-Star | 9 | 5 | 23.2 | .525 | .478 | .833 | 3.4 | 7.7 | 2.7 | .0 | 6.4 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Phoenix | 5 | 5 | 41.4 | .396 | .364 | .526 | 6.0 | 9.8 | 2.2 | .4 | 12.0 |
| 1998 | Phoenix | 4 | 4 | 42.8 | .379 | .000 | .813 | 5.8 | 7.8 | 4.0 | .5 | 14.3 |
| 1999 | Phoenix | 3 | 3 | 42.0 | .419 | .250 | .714 | 2.3 | 10.3 | 1.7 | .3 | 15.0 |
| 2000 | Phoenix | 6 | 6 | 38.2 | .400 | .364 | .778 | 6.7 | 8.8 | 1.8 | .2 | 9.8 |
| 2001 | Phoenix | 4 | 4 | 41.5 | .319 | .235 | .750 | 6.0 | 13.3 | 2.0 | .0 | 14.3 |
| 2002 | New Jersey | 20 | 20 | 40.2 | .415 | .189 | .808 | 8.2 | 9.1 | 1.7 | .4 | 19.6 |
| 2003 | New Jersey | 20 | 20 | 42.6 | .402 | .327 | .825 | 7.7 | 8.2 | 1.8 | .2 | 20.1 |
| 2004 | New Jersey | 11 | 11 | 43.1 | .333 | .208 | .811 | 6.6 | 9.0 | 2.3 | .5 | 12.6 |
| 2005 | New Jersey | 4 | 4 | 45.5 | .388 | .367 | .545 | 9.0 | 7.3 | 2.5 | .0 | 17.3 |
| 2006 | New Jersey | 11 | 11 | 40.9 | .371 | .300 | .826 | 7.6 | 9.6 | 1.5 | .2 | 12.0 |
| 2007 | New Jersey | 12 | 12 | 40.3 | .432 | .420 | .520 | 10.9 | 10.9 | 1.8 | .4 | 14.6 |
| 2008 | Dallas | 5 | 5 | 36.0 | .421 | .462 | .625 | 6.4 | 6.8 | 1.4 | .4 | 8.6 |
| 2009 | Dallas | 10 | 10 | 38.6 | .458 | .447 | .850 | 5.8 | 5.9 | 2.2 | .3 | 11.4 |
| 2010 | Dallas | 6 | 6 | 40.5 | .304 | .321 | .917 | 6.8 | 7.0 | 2.3 | .2 | 8.0 |
| 2011† | Dallas | 21 | 21 | 35.4 | .398 | .374 | .800 | 4.5 | 7.3 | 1.9 | .5 | 9.3 |
| 2012 | Dallas | 4 | 4 | 36.0 | .341 | .346 | .900 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 3.0 | .3 | 11.5 |
| 2013 | New York | 12 | 0 | 20.6 | .120 | .176 | 1.000 | 3.5 | 2.0 | 1.0 | .3 | .9 |
| Career | 158 | 146 | 38.5 | .391 | .322 | .781 | 6.7 | 8.0 | 1.9 | .3 | 12.9 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992–93 | California | 29 | 28 | 31.8 | .463 | .286 | .657 | 4.9 | 7.7* | 3.8* | .3 | 13.0 |
| 1993–94 | California | 30 | 29 | 35.1 | .472 | .362 | .692 | 6.9 | 9.1* | 3.1* | .3 | 16.7 |
| Career[109] | 59 | 57 | 33.5 | .468 | .333 | .677 | 5.9 | 8.4 | 3.5 | .3 | 14.9 | |
| Regular season | G | Games coached | W | Games won | L | Games lost | W–L % | Win–loss % |
| Playoffs | PG | Playoff games | PW | Playoff wins | PL | Playoff losses | PW–L % | Playoff win–loss % |
| Team | Year | G | W | L | W–L% | Finish | PG | PW | PL | PW–L% | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brooklyn | 2013–14 | 82 | 44 | 38 | .537 | 2nd inAtlantic | 12 | 5 | 7 | .417 | Lost inconference semifinals |
| Milwaukee | 2014–15 | 82 | 41 | 41 | .500 | 3rd inCentral | 6 | 2 | 4 | .333 | Lost infirst round |
| Milwaukee | 2015–16 | 82 | 33 | 49 | .402 | 5th in Central | — | — | — | — | Missed playoffs |
| Milwaukee | 2016–17 | 82 | 42 | 40 | .512 | 2nd in Central | 6 | 2 | 4 | .333 | Lost infirst round |
| Milwaukee | 2017–18 | 45 | 23 | 22 | .511 | (fired) | — | — | — | — | — |
| Dallas | 2021–22 | 82 | 52 | 30 | .634 | 2nd inSouthwest | 18 | 9 | 9 | .500 | Lost inconference finals |
| Dallas | 2022–23 | 82 | 38 | 44 | .463 | 3rd in Southwest | — | — | — | — | Missed playoffs |
| Dallas | 2023–24 | 82 | 50 | 32 | .610 | 1st in Southwest | 22 | 13 | 9 | .591 | Lost inNBA Finals |
| Career | 619 | 323 | 296 | .522 | 64 | 31 | 33 | .484 | |||
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