Jason Kidd is in advanced talks with ESPN to join their NBA studio coverage, according to longtime league insider Marc Stein. The discussions come just months after Kidd’s departure from the Dallas Mavericks, where he spent five seasons as head coach.
Kidd was fired by Dallas in May, shortly after Masai Ujiri was hired as the franchise’s president of basketball operations. Ujiri took responsibility for the decision to part ways with Kidd, ending a tenure that saw the Mavericks reach the Western Conference Finals in 2022 and the NBA Finals in 2024. The separation was officially described as mutual, but Ujiri’s comments clarified that he made the call.
Despite this exit, Kidd’s coaching record is mixed rather than poor. He finished with a 388-395 regular-season record across his head coaching stints in Brooklyn, Milwaukee, and Dallas, and a 31-33 playoff mark. While his teams had flashes of success, they did not maintain consistent winning seasons. The Mavericks’ 26-56 record in Kidd’s final year gave Ujiri reason to seek a new direction.
Before coaching, Kidd was one of the NBA’s top point guards. He won a championship with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011, earned 10 All-Star selections, and retired second all-time in both assists and steals. His induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame came in 2018.
Kidd’s next challenge may be in front of the camera rather than on the sidelines. ESPN has not confirmed the details of his potential role, but NBA Countdown is the likely destination for the former coach. Kidd’s value would come from his recent coaching experience, his insight into playoff preparation, and his understanding of team strategies behind closed doors. This would be his first significant broadcasting job.
The timing of this move is notable. Ujiri’s arrival on May 4 was followed just 15 days later by Kidd’s dismissal, suggesting an immediate shift in Mavericks management philosophy. Kidd’s experience now offers a different perspective on the league, one that could shape how fans and viewers understand the game.
Kidd has expressed a desire to coach again, but for now, he is considering stepping into a media role that would leverage the knowledge he gained from years as a player and coach. His transition to television would not erase the uneven aspects of his coaching record but would transform that experience into a new form of contribution to NBA coverage.
No formal announcement has been made yet by ESPN or Kidd, but the talks are described as advanced. The move would add a recent NBA coach to a studio lineup that values firsthand experience and inside knowledge of the league’s inner workings.
The next confirmed development will be the official announcement of Kidd’s role, whenever ESPN finalizes the agreement.
According to Yahoo Sports.