Giannis Antetokounmpo poked a little fun at his former coach Jason Kidd during the Milwaukee Bucks’ 116 – 114 victory against the Dallas Mavericks on Monday. Kidd, who coached Giannis from 2014 to 2018, was crucial in shaping him into one of the NBA’s most versatile and dominant players.
Early in Giannis’ career, Kidd urged him to minimize three-point attempts and concentrate on post-ups, creating opportunities for teammates, and attacking from the right angles. On Monday, Giannis turned the tables, sinking a deep three late in the fourth quarter against Kidd’s Mavericks.
Jan 29, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks head coach Jason Kidd calls a play with forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) in the fourth quarter during the game against the Miami Heat at BMO Harris Bradley Center. The Heat beat the Bucks 107-103. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
“That was for him. When I was younger, he told me not to shoot threes,” Giannis said in jest when talking about his former coach Jason Kidd. “Figure out a way to find angles and facilitate for your teammates, post up. He helped me a lot, but I think he took away from my game when I was younger… So when I made it, I said, ‘That’s for you, for all the torture you put me through.’”
Giannis Antetokounmpo says his deep three against the Mavericks was for Jason Kidd
“When I was younger, he told me not to shoot threes… So when I made it, I said ‘That’s for you, for all the torture you put me through.’”pic.twitter.com/RetX7BEYLQ
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) November 11, 2025
Beyond the playful jab, Giannis commended Kidd’s skill in developing young players, noting that he expects a similar influence on Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg.
“Kidd is okay. me a lot. One of my mentors… Just to look out for me and tell me how to work, how to think about carrying a team. You saw what he did with Luka… I think it’s gonna be the same with Cooper,” Giannis continued.
Giannis Antetokounmpo on Jason Kidd and Cooper Flagg
Jun 27, 2025; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks first overall pick Cooper Flagg (left) smiles with head coach Jason Kidd (right) at a press conference at the Dallas Mavericks Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
“Obviously has a great coach, that will give him the opportunity to have the ball in his hand because that’s very important in our league and um you know especially when you’re young, 19, 20, 18 years old to have a coach that’s able to trust you with the ball down the stretch or trust you with the ball throughout the game. It’s a plus. It’s a blessing.”
Jason Kidd understands the pressures that come with being a lottery pick. From the start, he gave a young Giannis Antetokounmpo plenty of freedom to handle the ball and make plays. Adjusting to a new coach was a challenge, but Kidd’s approach paid off—Giannis nearly doubled his scoring in his second season with the Bucks and continued to improve in the seasons that followed.
Nov 10, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) reacts after scoring against the Dallas Mavericks during the fourth quarter at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Against the Mavericks, Giannis tallied 30 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 blocks, connecting on 11 of 18 shots from the field and 1 of 2 from three-point range. This season, he is averaging 33.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 62.9% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc.