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Mavericks rumors: The simple reason Masai Ujiri fired Jason Kidd
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- Mavericks rumors: The simple reason Masai Ujiri fired Jason Kidd
Mavericks rumors: The simple reason Masai Ujiri fired Jason Kidd appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
The Dallas Mavericks have officially parted ways with Jason Kidd after five seasons with the head coach in what is the biggest move thus far taken under the new regime of Masai Ujiri. Kidd arrived in 2021 and helped the Mavericks to two Western Conference Finals along with the 2024 NBA Finals , but ends his tenure after a disastrous 2025-26 campaign that was curtailed due to multiple major injuries.
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Kidd and Ujiri had multiple discussions in recent weeks, including a lengthy meeting that also included new general manager Mike Schmitz, per The Stein Line. However, the Mavericks are understood to have wanted a 'clean slate' after what have been a hugely problematic 15 months, ever since the Luka Doncic trade.
The firing means that owner Patrick Dumont remains the only 'powerbroker' from the previous regime.
"Yet it's clear that Dumont, with Ujiri in place to make all the basketball decisions and the duo of Rick Welts and Ethan Casson working in tandem to run the business side, wants to move into the background and let his marquee hires call all the shots," The Stein Line said.
This will be a stark departure from Mark Cuban's style, with the former owner effectively having a major say in virtually all operations of the franchise. Kidd leaves with four years and well over $40 million remaining on his deal.
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The Mavericks missed the playoffs in both 2024-25 and 2025-26 after reaching the Finals only a year earlier. They were lucky to be able to draft Cooper Flagg after winning the draft lottery in unlikely fashion, despite having just a 1.8% chance.
However, despite Kidd's success and the part he played in Flagg's development, who won the Rookie of the Year award, the organization was simply looking for a long-term reset. Kidd was also part of the roster that landed the Mavericks their only championship to date, back in 2011.
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