Jason Kidd has become one of the NBA’s most reliable coaches in recent years. He has led the Dallas Mavericks to successful seasons, including the run to the NBA Finals in 2024. Kidd has faced issues, one of them being the infamous Luka Doncic trade in early 2025.

Any coach would struggle when a trade like that happens because Doncic is a top-four player in the league. After signing a multi-year contract extension with the Mavericks in 2024, Kidd will be the coach for a while. However, that could change if the New York Knicks‘ interest in Kidd intensifies.

This comes after the Knicks parted ways with former head coach Tom Thibodeau after the Eastern Conference Finals. Kidd is one of the options alongside Houston Rockets coach Ime Udoka and Minnesota Timberwolves coach Chris Finch. With this interest, Kendrick Perkins has given his opinion.

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The Knicks may have lost in the Eastern Conference Finals, but they are close to being the East’s best team. They were two games away from the NBA Finals, but they blew many opportunities to get an advantage.

Many people attribute those failings to Thibodeau, a coach “set in his ways.” He was still successful, leading them to multiple Playoff runs. However, that did not win them the Eastern Conference nor the NBA Finals.

Thibodeau was not the optimal choice due to his struggles with the offense. He would coach well with his defensive schemes, but he lacked creativity on offense. They relied on Jalen Brunson making the play, which worked out often, but the team needed to be more dynamic.

Kidd can improve the offense, considering he was a creative force during his playing career. Perkins would support the Knicks’ decision if they pull the trigger on hiring Kidd. Coincidentally, Perkins was also a vocal critic of Thibodeau in the 2025 Playoffs.

“If you’re going to fire coach Thibodeau, a guy who has built this culture and gave the energy back to New York, then you have to hire a guy like Jason Kidd,” Perkins said on SportsCenter.

“He coached Jalen Brunson. So, he knows what Jalen Brunson is like. You have to bring someone who is going to be neutral, who’s gonna hold guys accountable. Also, he’s respected. I’m interested to see.”

Kidd signed a long-term contract extension with the Dallas Mavericks. If the Knicks want him, they will hope Kidd is willing to end his deal and move to the East Coast. That is a risky move for the Mavs’ head coach, as he needs to break his contract to do this.

He won’t find any trouble with the Knicks, considering he played his last NBA season there during the 2012-13 campaign. Brunson will be a familiar face, as they worked together during the 2021-22 season. They reached the Western Conference Finals, but they lost to the eventual champions, the Golden State Warriors.

If that relationship is still strong, the Knicks have a good dynamic between their head coach and star player. However, joining the Knicks is unlikely because Kidd has a long-term deal with Dallas. The Mavericks have Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving, while Cooper Flagg will be the #1 overall pick.