Jason Kidd recently was hired to be the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks.
Jason Kidd has agreed to terms on becoming the next Mavs head coach, per @espn_macmahon
Nike executive Nico Harrison will also become the new GM and head of basketball operations pic.twitter.com/bSG7ac7vyA
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) June 25, 2021
It has been discussed since 2013 whether or not Kidd should be a head coach in the NBA.
There are a plethora of reasons as to why people have said he should not.
Some are simply not fans of former players being coaches.
Others have issues with Kidd’s past and do not believe that he should not be given a platform or an occupation that nets him millions of dollars a year.
Finally, some believe that he is simply still not experienced enough to be a head coach.
However, there are two major reasons as to why Kidd has every right to be a head coach.
Time As A Player
Kidd was one of the best point guards of his era.
He finished his career as a 10-time All-Star, five-time assist champion, six-time member of the All-NBA team, an NBA champion, and a Hall of Famer.
Kidd also still ranks second in career steals, second in career assists, and 65th in career rebounds.
He was a combo guard with a very versatile skillset.
Kidd was a little bit ahead of his time.
Today, it is much more common to see taller players handling the ball than it was in Kidd’s era.
This is something that makes him the perfect coach for the Mavericks.
Luka Dončić is also a combo guard and having an NBA legend like Kidd to guide his growth could set him on the path to being one of the all-time greats.
Dončić is already a better scorer than Kidd ever was, however, if Kidd is able to pass on his playmaking and defensive talents, he could transform the Mavericks into championship contenders for years to come.
Defense is by far the weakest link in Dončić’s game.
This season, he ranked 404th out of the 533 players in the league in terms of defensive rating.
As a result of how much is asked of him on the offensive end, his lack of athleticism, and his age, defense will likely always be difficult for Dončić.
However, him ranking this low is laughable and very surprising.
Dončić is one of the most competitive players in the league.
If Kidd is able to tap into that competitiveness and pass along some knowledge and tips on guarding certain players, Dončić could progress to being a respectable defender.
It is clear that Dončić wants Kidd there and is excited to learn from him.
With him being the face of the franchise, a coaching hire would not occur without him signing off on it.
"Luka signed off and endorsed [the hiring of Jason Kidd]. If it wasn't for Luka and Dirk Nowitzki, he wouldn't be the head coach in Dallas."@stephenasmith on what he's hearing from sources in Dallas. pic.twitter.com/Q9kF6HwFjF
— First Take (@FirstTake) June 25, 2021
Coaching Experience
On top of being one of the best point guards the game has seen, Kidd has also spent the past six years coaching.
This combination makes Kidd one of the most exciting candidates on the coaching market this offseason.
While he had an awful record as a head coach, context helps Kidd out a lot.
He coached a Brooklyn Nets team in a post Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce era.
Along with this, he coached the Milwaukee Bucks before Giannis Antetokounmpo became the MVP caliber player we know today.
Despite this, Kidd maintained a record of 183-189 as a head coach.
However, after his time with the Bucks, he became an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Lakers.
This opportunity allowed him to learn from Lakers head coach Frank Vogel.
Vogel has one of the best defensive coaching minds in the league.
If Kidd was able to absorb some of the knowledge from Vogel, the Mavericks could be a team that surprises many this season.
NEXT: 3 Reasons Dallas Mavericks Should Not Hire Jason Kidd
