Former Dallas Mavericks assistant Igor Kokoskov didn’t exactly soften his view of Jason Kidd when he appeared on X&O's Chat. Kokoskov spent time talking about his coaching career, the difference between American and European basketball culture, and his run in Dallas - but the most revealing part of the conversation was his blunt take on Kidd.
Kokoskov praised Kidd as a player, but he drew a sharp line when the discussion turned to coaching. He said, "I [didn't] have a good experience with him, nor do I have a high opinion of him off the court or as a head coach."
He then suggested Kidd’s path to several head-coaching jobs had more to do with stature than results, saying those opportunities came because of "his name and reputation as a legendary player." Kokoskov pointed to Kidd’s 44-38 record with the Brooklyn Nets, his losing record with the Milwaukee Bucks, and his later struggles in Dallas even with Luka Doncic on the roster.
The comments also hinted at something more personal between the two. Kokoskov said Kidd seemed unable to get past the Eastern European-born coach’s relationship with Doncic, and later added that Kidd had "personal issues," which he said he did not want to get involved in.
There was no full explanation beyond that, but the implication was clear enough. Kidd’s push for control, which had reportedly been a theme during his time with multiple teams, appears to have played a role in how things unraveled in Dallas. He was reportedly involved in the team’s decision to send Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in one of the league’s most divisive trades in recent memory, and after Nico Harrison’s dismissal, Kidd reportedly wanted team president duties as well.
That never happened. Team governor Patrick Dumont hired Masai Ujiri as team president, and Kidd soon departed. With Ujiri taking control of the Mavericks’ basketball operations, there was no room left for Kidd to keep expanding his influence.
Kokoskov’s remarks don’t settle every detail around Kidd’s exit, but they do add another firsthand account to a messy story. And coming from a coach with more than 30 years of experience and 24 seasons on NBA sidelines, including a stint as head coach of the Phoenix Suns, the criticism carries real weight.
For Dallas, it’s another reason to feel justified in moving on. When a veteran coach of that caliber says Kidd is "the worst guy in the NBA," it’s hard not to see the Mavericks’ decision in a different light.
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