Former Mavericks assistant Igor Kokoskov did not hold back when Jason Kidd’s name came up.
Speaking on Xs and Os Chat, a Serbian YouTube channel, Kokoskov said he had “I don't have a good experience with him, nor do I have high opinion of him off the court or as a head coach,” before adding, “... After that first year in Dallas, once the season wrapped up.
I got a call from Steve Nash, inviting me to join Brooklyn. I remember thinking, 'I was working for the worst guy in the NBA, and now I have a call from best guy in the NBA'”
Kokoskov’s comments landed with extra force because he spent Kidd’s first season in Dallas, the 2021-22 campaign, on the Mavericks’ bench as an assistant. He said Kidd was never comfortable with how close he was to Luka Doncic, pointing to Kokoskov’s background as head coach of the Slovenian national team for several years.
Before joining Dallas, Kokoskov had already built a winding coaching résumé. He was the head coach of the Phoenix Suns for a year, then returned overseas to lead the Serbian national team and Fenerbahce before landing with the Mavericks.
He also suggested Kidd benefited from ideal situations in his coaching stops, including Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee and Doncic in Dallas. Still, Kokoskov made clear he respected Kidd’s work as a player, calling attention to his reputation as one of the game’s great playmakers.
The remarks arrive after Kidd’s exit from Dallas, which came a few days after Masai Ujiri took over as team president and alternate governor with full authority to make changes. Ujiri chose to clean house, and Kidd “mutually parting ways” with the Mavericks opened the door for Dusty May to become the new coach.
Kidd’s off-court history has also followed him for years. He was arrested for domestic abuse in 2001 and a DUI in 2012.
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