Amid rumors linking Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd to the New York Knicks, Dallas made a major coaching staff hire, shutting down the speculations.
In recent days, New York, which moved on from head coach Tom Thibodeau last week after five seasons, has been connected to several high-profile coaches. Its list of candidates features a few head coaches under contract, including Kidd, who still has two years remaining on the multiyear extension he signed last year.
While reports indicate that the Knicks will likely seek permission to interview the nine-year coaching veteran, the Mavericks appear to be conducting business as usual.
Mavericks Bolster Jason Kidd’s Coaching Staff Amid Knicks Rumblings
On Tuesday, The Athletic’s Christian Clark and Sam Amick reported that Dallas is hiring “former Toronto Raptors and Phoenix Suns head coach Jay Triano in a lead assistant-coaching position.” The insiders noted that Triano joined the seasoned Western Conference squad under the assumption that he would be working alongside Kidd.
“According to a league source, Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison made it clear to Triano during the process that Kidd would remain the head coach,” Clark and Amick wrote.
Per The Dallas Morning News’ Mike Curtis, Triano will serve as the Mavericks’ “second-lead assistant” behind Sean Sweeney and ahead of Jared Dudley. The move comes after he spent the last three seasons with the Sacramento Kings, the first two as an assistant coach and the last as an associate head coach.
The #Mavs have agreed to terms with former Kings assistant Jay Triano to become the second-lead assistant on Jason Kidd’s coaching staff, a person familiar with the team’s thinking confirms.
The Athletic first reported Triano’s official hiring.
— Mike Curtis (@MikeACurtis2) June 11, 2025
Clark and Amick’s report also featured further details on New York’s “serious interest” in Kidd, who has multiple ties to the organization. On top of ending his playing career with the Knicks, Kidd coached their franchise point guard Jalen Brunson in Dallas during the 2021-22 campaign, with the two forming a “strong relationship.”
Despite the Hall of Famer seemingly topping their coaching candidates list, they have reportedly “yet to request permission to speak” with him. Per ESPN’s Shams Charania’s Tuesday report, “the Mavericks would reject them” even if they did.
The Knicks have not requested permission for Mavericks coach Jason Kidd as of Tuesday night, but sources tell ESPN that the Mavericks would reject them. https://t.co/5oSSGQb0x4
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 11, 2025
Moreover, Kidd “has been present at the Mavericks’ practice facility this past week as they’ve held [draft] workouts,” sparking speculation that he’s been using New York as leverage.
“The widely held belief is that Kidd, ultimately, is hoping to parlay the Knicks’ interest into a lucrative contract extension,” Clark and Amick wrote. “It remains to be seen how Kidd might respond if he doesn’t get the desired extension.”
Thus, it appears the Knicks will have to keep searching for their next sideline leader to help them build on this year’s Eastern Conference finals run.
MORE: 2025 NBA Mock Draft Following Shocking Lottery Results