The Dallas Mavericks announced Monday they have signed head coach Jason Kidd to a multiyear contract extension amid rumors that the Los Angeles Lakers may have been interested in poaching him.
Kidd has led the Mavs to playoff series victories in two of his three seasons and has the team headed to the Western Conference Semifinals that begin Tuesday. He took the team to the finals in 2022, where they were defeated by the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors went on to win the finals that year.
“We are excited to have coach Kidd continue to lead our team throughout the coming years with this well-earned contract extension,” Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont said in a statement released by the team, per Fox Sports. “Kidd led our team to two playoff appearances in three seasons, and we are looking forward to his leadership in continuing to build and grow this already great franchise.”
The Associated Press reports that details of the contract extension have not been released.
Kidd was a Hall of Fame player with Dallas before making the transition to coaching. He began with the Brooklyn Nets, where he guided the franchise to the second round of the playoffs before going to Milwaukee. Despite leading the Bucks to the playoffs in two of his four seasons with the team, Milwaukee fired Kidd mid-way through the 2018 season.
He then was hired by the LA Lakers as an assistant where he was part of the NBA Finals-winning team in 2020, per reporting by AP.
“I have known Jason for a long time, and I cannot think of a better, more qualified candidate to lead this team going forward,” Mavericks General Manager Nico Harrison said in a statement announcing the extension.
“As a former NBA Champion Hall of Fame player, Jason brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this role which cannot be duplicated. He has earned the trust and respect of our players and that of so many across the league, and I look forward to working alongside him as we continue to build upon the culture and foundation of success he’s helped foster throughout his tenure as head coach.”
Kidd has a 140-106 regular season record in Dallas and a 323-296 record in his coaching career.
While the rumor that the Lakers may have been interested in hiring Kidd might have motivated the Mavs to seal the deal, it had already been in the works. LA fired head coach Darvin Ham on Friday after two seasons and two first-round exits. They are believed to be pursuing Celtics coach Charles Lee, whom they interviewed two seasons before hiring Ham.