Masai Ujiri has admitted that parting methods with head coach Jason Kidd was one of many hardest selections he has needed to make, insisting the transfer was fully his duty after Kidd’s five-year stint with the franchise.
Talking a day after the membership confirmed Kidd’s departure, Ujiri mentioned the group felt it was time to maneuver in a distinct route and start a reset of the group’s construction.
In response to Ujiri, Kidd made a significant contribution to the franchise and deserved respect for his work, describing the choice as extraordinarily troublesome.
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He additionally careworn that he should take full duty for such a big transfer and mentioned he intends to carefully consider each facet of the group transferring ahead.
Ujiri, who took over as group president and governor two weeks in the past, dismissed recommendations that the choice was linked to the controversial commerce that despatched Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in February 2025.
“Truthfully, that commerce has performed no half in how I’ve considered something,” Ujiri mentioned. “I’m in no place to criticize or blame and even actually examine a few of the issues that occurred then. Now we have to determine a option to slowly transfer on from this, and I’ve to carry myself accountable for doing this.”
When requested about Kidd’s future throughout his introductory press convention on Might 5, Ujiri remained noncommittal. On Wednesday, he revealed that he had held intensive discussions with Kidd since taking cost, although he declined to share particulars of these conversations.
“Being clear with all people, I feel a brand new slate was a great way to take a look at this,” Ujiri mentioned. “I really feel generally on this group we wanted readability in the place we’re going. We have to actually work in a single route in how we construct this group and create a successful tradition.”
Dallas loved two deep playoff runs underneath Kidd and Doncic, reaching the NBA Finals in 2024 after falling to the Golden State Warriors within the Western Convention Finals two years earlier.
Nonetheless, the Mavericks’ choice to commerce Doncic to the Lakers in the course of the 2024/25 season — with Anthony Davis arriving because the centerpiece of the deal — proved disastrous for the franchise. Dallas missed the playoffs in each the 2024/25 and 2025/26 campaigns.
Kidd, the Corridor of Fame level guard who guided the Mavericks to their solely NBA championship as a participant in 2011, leaves with a 205-205 regular-season teaching report.
Ujiri has already outlined plans to construct the group round Cooper Flagg, the 19-year-old reigning Rookie of the Yr who was chosen first general after a standout season at Duke College.
Flagg is but to share the court docket with fellow Duke alumnus Kyrie Irving, who thrived underneath Kidd earlier than struggling an ACL harm in March 2025 that dominated him out for your complete 2025/26 season.
“When Kyrie arrived in Dallas, he was coming off troublesome intervals in Boston and Brooklyn,” Ujiri mentioned. “He rediscovered himself right here, and we’re excited to see how he suits alongside Cooper Flagg transferring ahead.”
Ujiri additionally confirmed the appointment of Mike Schmitz as common supervisor, whereas revealing that former co-interim GM Matt Riccardi is leaving the group. Discussions are additionally ongoing concerning a attainable future function for former Mavericks participant Michael Finley.
Shifting on from Kidd will reportedly come at a big monetary price for Dallas, who had handed the coach multiyear extensions in the course of the 2024 playoffs and once more final 12 months after blocking the New York Knicks from interviewing him for his or her vacant head teaching place.
“I’m going to take a seat right here and take duty for each choice we make,” Ujiri mentioned. “It’s not about being defensive. We’re going to comply with a imaginative and prescient, and we’re dedicated to constructing this group the correct method.”
