GM: Jason Kidd returning to coach Mavericks next season

Jason Kidd will be No. 1 draft pick Cooper Flagg's first NBA coach.

That's what Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison told reporters Wednesday night after Dallas selected the Duke star in the draft.

There have been rumblings that Kidd wants to pursue the head coaching job with the New York Knicks, even though the Mavericks denied the team's interest in interviewing him.

"Are there rumors still out there about J-Kidd?" Harrison said. "I thought I shut them down. Yes, he will be the coach next year."

The Knicks fired head coach Tom Thibodeau on June 3 and have been rebuffed by the Mavericks and at least four other teams in efforts to interview their head coaches.

Kidd, 52, has two years remaining on his contract with the Mavericks. He has been Dallas' head coach since the 2021-22 season and has a 179-149 record. He led the team to the NBA Finals in the 2023-24 season, losing in five games to the Boston Celtics.

The Mavericks, amid upheaval following the trade of Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, did not make the playoffs in the recently ended season, finishing 39-43.

Flagg told ESPN he already has started to build a rapport with the Hall of Fame member.

"I think he has a lot of confidence in me to just come in and be an impact player," Flagg told ESPN. "He's going to let me have the ball a little, I think, and just try to rock out and do what I can do."

Kidd also has been the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets (2013-14) and Milwaukee Bucks (2014-18).

--Field Level Media