On May 19, 2026, the Dallas Mavericks and head coach Jason Kidd announced they have mutually agreed to part ways in Dallas, Texas. The change comes after Masai Ujiri was hired as team president and amid broader front-office shifts that included the firing of former general manager Nico Harrison. Owners and stakeholders reacted, including minority owner Mark Cuban, while the organization says it has already opened a comprehensive search for its next head coach.
The club issued a statement Tuesday saying the split with Kidd was mutual and that the Mavericks have launched a disciplined search to find a new leader for the bench. Sources inside the building say the decision reflects a desire to reset the program under Ujiri’s new vision, not simply a snap judgment after one losing season. Fans and analysts have already begun debating what style of coach the Mavs should pursue next.
“Jason has had a meaningful impact on the Dallas Mavericks, both as a Hall of Fame player and as the head coach who helped lead this franchise back to the NBA Finals,” said Mavericks President Masai Ujiri. “We are thankful for Jason’s leadership, his professionalism and his commitment to the team. In my short time here, I’ve developed an enormous amount of respect for what he has built. He will always be an important part of the Mavericks family.”
“As we evaluate the future of our basketball program, we believe this is the right moment for a new direction for our team,” Ujiri said. “We have high expectations for this franchise and a responsibility to build a basketball organization capable of sustained championship contention. We will conduct a thorough, disciplined search for our next head coach and continue to evaluate our entire basketball operations staff to ensure we compete at the standard Mavs fans expect and deserve.”
Mark Cuban weighed in when asked about the move, offering a fan-owner perspective that mixed disappointment with patience. “Obviously I’m a J-Kidd fan. So I’m surprised and disappointed. But we have to give Masai a chance to see what happens. He has been through this before.
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Jason Kidd became head coach of the Mavericks on June 28, 2021, taking over a team that had long chased consistent postseason relevance. Over his five seasons in Dallas he produced a 205-205 regular-season record and experienced clear highs and lows, culminating in a 26-56 finish for the 2025-2026 campaign. Those numbers underscore why ownership and the front office felt compelled to rethink leadership, despite some notable playoff success under Kidd.
Kidd’s biggest achievements with the club included a run to the 2022 Western Conference Finals and a trip to the NBA Finals in 2024, the franchise’s first Finals appearance since 2011. As a player he is also part of the Mavericks’ lore, having contributed to the 2011 championship team in two separate stints with the franchise. Those ties to the city and the roster make this parting harder for many fans to accept, even as the franchise looks ahead.
The Mavericks signed Kidd to a multi-year extension in October 2025, a pact that, according to reporting, still has significant money remaining on it. that Kidd has more that $40 million left on that contract extension. Financially and procedurally that complicates the next steps, but organizations often prioritize long-term strategic alignment over short-term sunk costs when they believe the overall direction needs recalibration.
Ujiri’s arrival as team president played a clear role in the process; he has repeatedly said he intended to evaluate the organization from top to bottom. “I had a conversation with Jason Kidd yesterday. I’m going to meet with Jason Kidd. Hear his thoughts on everything,” Ujiri said earlier, and he added, “He’s done a great job, but we’re going to look at this thing from head to toe. That’s the right way to look at an organization and evaluate in every single way.” That methodical stance is now unfolding publicly as the Mavs begin a search for a coach who can match Ujiri’s stated ambitions.
This is a breaking news story. Follow this article for further updates as they become available.
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