Founders' Choice: Rethinking Jason Kidd
Perhaps the Mavericks' coach demonstrates an important lesson about perception.
Today’s piece is the first in our “Founders Choice” series for the summer where we will regularly write about topics that different founding subscribers have suggested they would very much like to have me address. This one is from a Founder named Jim, who asked me to offer an update on my feelings about Mavericks’ Head Coach Jason Kidd. It is particularly interesting to write you this on the airplane to Boston as I go to cover the 2024 NBA Finals featuring the Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics.
On March 6th, I had finally given up on the idea that this Mavericks team had a clue. I am not alone, of course, but that isn’t really important. Because here in this space, when I write something, it needs to be something that I believe in.
For those who listen to the radio show that I am on every day for The Ticket, you know that I was not at all against the hiring of Jason Kidd back in July of 2021. Several of my Ticket friends seemed very disappointed in hiring him after his failures in Brooklyn and Milwaukee, but I guess I was more in the “let’s see where this goes” camp.
But, by March 6th, I definitely could not take the direction of the team. The deadline had passed. The upgrades were made. And yet, they lost five out of six games and went from 33-23 to 34-28 overnight.
It was bad.
Especially the two home games against Philadelphia (without its best player) and then a rematch with Rick Carlisle and the Pacers (who smoked them badly in front of a very frustrated crowd).
It was difficult to see a world where the Mavericks could escape the play-in games, and honestly, things were pretty rough. This team did not appear ready to go on a massive run.
So, I decided it was time to write the story that had been on my mind. Perhaps the Mavericks needed to consider that as Year 3 was winding down, maybe the next move was to try another head coach this spring. Boy, was I hot under the sports collar.