Ahead of their first matchup of the season, Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd spoke about the Knicks’ public desire to interview him for their head coach vacancy this summer, according to Christian Clark of The Athletic (subscriber link).
Kidd confirmed the summer reporting that Dallas denied the Knicks’ request to interview him, but added that it wouldn’t have mattered either way.
“I was never thinking about leaving Dallas,” Kidd said. “Understanding that we have a lot of work here to be done. I’m all in to be able to do that. I was drafted here. I have won here. I love the city. I love the fans. It never crossed my mind to leave Dallas.”
It had been rumoured during the Knicks’ coaching search that there was mutual interest between Kidd and New York, which was the Hall of Fame point guard’s final stop in his playing career, but it ultimately amounted to nothing, as Kidd ended up signing a multi-year extension with the Mavs a month after the Knicks hired Mike Brown.
That’s not to say that Kidd didn’t appreciate the pursuit, though.
“I think it’s safe to say we all enjoy being wanted,” Kidd said. “That was a nice touch.”
This is the fifth season Kidd has spent as the head coach of the Mavs. He holds a record of 183-160 in that time, with a run to the NBA Finals in 2024 standing out as the high point of his time in Dallas.