Former Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd is moving to television, joining ESPN's NBA Countdown studio show for the upcoming season. This pivot comes after Kidd and the Mavericks parted ways in May, ending a five-year tenure that saw the team reach the 2024 NBA Finals. The Mavericks' most recent outing was a high-scoring 149-128 victory over the Chicago Bulls on April 13, iii.
Kidd will be a featured analyst on ESPN's primary NBA studio program, NBA Countdown. He fills the vacancy left by former Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone. Kidd's responsibilities will include breaking down games during the network's pregame and halftime coverage. His Hall of Fame playing career and decade of coaching experience provide a unique perspective for the desk. The show is a key part of ESPN's basketball programming lineup.
The Mavericks and Kidd mutually agreed to separate in May 2025. His five-season run in Dallas had mixed results. The team made the playoffs only twice. But those runs were deep, culminating in a Western Conference Finals appearance in 2022 and an NBA Finals berth just last season. Following his departure, the franchise hired Dusty May from the University of Michigan. Kidd's coaching journey began immediately after his 2013 retirement. He started with the Brooklyn Nets, was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks, served as a Los Angeles Lakers assistant, and then landed in Dallas.
Under new leadership, the Mavericks' recent form has been challenging. Their last five games show a record of 1 win and 4 losses (WLLLL). After the big win over Chicago, they fell 112-107 to the Phoenix Suns on April 9. Before that, they suffered heavy defeats to the Milwaukee Bucks (123-99 on April 1) and the New Orleans Pelicans (129-111 on March 17). They also lost a shootout to the Golden State Warriors, 137-131, on March 24. Their last win prior to the Chicago game was a 130-120 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 15. Fans can track the team's progress on our [standings](/standings) page.
All focus now shifts to Coach Dusty May and the current roster. The team's inconsistent results highlight areas needing improvement as they build toward the next playoff push. Integrating a new coaching philosophy while maintaining the offensive firepower shown in the 149-point outing against Chicago will be key. For Jason Kidd, his immediate future is in the broadcast booth. His insight on ESPN will offer a direct link to the Mavericks' recent past, analyzing the league he just left from the coach's seat.
