The Jason Kidd saga concluded after he officially joined the Dallas Mavericks to lead the team as a head coach.
After the Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, Kidd became a popular name in the coaching market around the league as teams moved on from previous head coaches.
Kidd’s name reportedly entered the discussion for the Boston Celtics, Portland Trail Blazers, New Orleans Pelicans, Orlando Magic and, of course, the Mavericks.
The links to Dallas intensified after former Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle said he hoped Kidd would be his replacement.
With Kidd’s departure, the Los Angeles Lakers now have an open spot on the coaching staff to fill.
But before the team conducts a search for that, LeBron James and Frank Vogel — via Dave McMenamin of ESPN — reacted to the news on Twitter:
Damn I hate to lose JKidd man but damn I’m happy for him at the same time! Good luck Kidd!
— LeBron James (@KingJames) June 25, 2021
Lakers coach Frank Vogel, to ESPN, on Jason Kidd becoming the Mavs head coach: “Jason has been a big part of the culture we have built over the last two years and he will be missed. But, I am thrilled for him to get the opportunity to be a head coach again! It’s well deserved!”
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) June 25, 2021
As Vogel mentioned, Kidd joined his staff in 2019 as an assistant and stayed there since, helping in a role to bring the franchise’s 17th championship last season.
Kidd had previously head coached the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks before coming to L.A. Now with Dallas, he returns to the team that drafted him in 1994.
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