Is it time for Dallas to move on from coach Jason Kidd?

Is Jason Kidd the best trainer option for Dallas Mavericks? Should the team consider moving in a different direction?

Kidd is well known with the Mavericks, having won a championship with the team as a player back in 2011. He also began his Hall of Fame playing career in Dallas. After various other coaching jobs following his retirement, Kidd returned to Dallas to become the head coach in 2021. The Mavs gave Kidd a multi-year contract extension before the 2025-26 season, so it appears they are committed to a head coach.

That being said, it may be time for the Mavs to seriously consider what the future holds for the team. Dallas struggled to start the 2025-26 campaign, and Kidd made a series of questionable decisions. Additionally, this Mavericks team doesn’t seem to have much of an identity. The offense is in disarray – which is somewhat understandable given all the injuries on the roster – but Kidd is clearly having a hard time finding an offensive strategy that works.

Jason Kidd’s lack of strategy

When asked about the team’s offensive woes, Kidd consistently returned a similar response. The Mavs head coach often states the obvious, saying they lack shots despite looking good. The reality of the situation is that Dallas currently does not have a true point guard. Kidd’s experiment with the Cooper Flagg pager just didn’t work.

Anyone who has watched the Mavs over the years knows that Kidd likes to try new things early in the season. He seems to prefer to test different strategies before committing to any one approach. However, the casual basketball fan could explain why putting the 18-year-old forward at point guard was a bad move.

Kidd was also seemingly hesitant to begin D’Angelo Russell before finally making the move on Wednesday – a game in which Dallas lost 101-99 to the New Orleans Pelicans. As mentioned, Dallas lacks a true point guard, but Russell is the closest player on the roster. However, before Wednesday’s contest, Russell did not start the game with the Mavs.

Going back to the question of strategy, the reality of the situation is that Kidd hasn’t had to be particularly creative in the past with Luka Dončić on the list. Luka would sometimes dribble too much, but he would also create mesmerizing plays out of nowhere. All Kid had to do was sit back and enjoy the show.

That is no longer the case.

Who is Jason Kidd without Luka Doncic?

During the Mavericks’ 2023-24 NBA championship run, the team had the sixth-best offensive rating in the NBA. Last season, they took a step back, as Doncic faced an injury and was traded in early February. However, the Mavs finished 18th in offensive rating.

So far during the 2025-26 campaign, Dallas’ 103.2 offensive rating is the worst in the NBA. The Mavs are also 28th in assist-to-turnover ratio, 18th in turnover percentage, 26th in field goal percentage and 28th in three-point percentage. In other words, the team’s offense was shockingly bad and Kidd didn’t do much to adjust.

His first real offensive adjustment came Wednesday, when he moved Flagg to the three, started Russell in the one and moved Klay Thompson on the bench. The moves didn’t change much, as the offense continued to struggle.

With Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving injured, Kidd is in dire straits. It’s true that he’s been in a challenging position since Nico Harrison shocked the NBA world with his Doncic changed nine months ago.

To Kidd’s credit, he did a respectable job of holding the players together amid adversity last season. Dallas still managed to clinch a playoff spot and even won a game in the tournament before being eliminated from the postseason.

Jason Kidd is a good NBA coach. He endured a challenging season from a head coaching standpoint, but it wasn’t all his fault. He doesn’t do much to help his case, though.

At this point, the Mavericks may have to commit to hitting the rest button. A head coaching change could seem like a breath of fresh air. A change in general manager is what Mavericks fans really want – and they could get their wish if Dallas continues to play at an alarming rate all season. Most people around the NBA agree that moving on from Harrison is the best move.

However, moving on from Kidd may also be the best option for the Mavericks. A fresh start can benefit both Kidd and the Mavs.