When the Knicks fired coach Tom Thibodeau after their best playoff run in 25 years, it was clear New York was looking to take the next step toward competing for a title. While there’s no clear frontrunner for the job, a current sitting head coach has reportedly shown some interest in the opening.
Per ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, there’s “mutual intrigue” between the Knicks and Mavericks coach Jason Kidd. Now, that doesn’t mean New York will get a deal done. The Knicks will also have to request to interview Kidd, which the Mavs could deny. So there are still moving parts as the Knicks look for their next head coach.
The Mavs are in an interesting spot in the wake of the stunning Luka Doncic trade. They have the No. 1 pick and a chance to draft Cooper Flagg, along with stars like Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving on the roster. But that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll be competing for a championship next season as Irving is also coming off a torn ACL.
Kidd also reportedly didn’t enjoy being the spokesperson for the Mavs after the Doncic trade. The Hall of Fame guard just finished his fourth season in Dallas which includes an appearance in the 2024 NBA Finals. If Kidd ends up in New York, it could be after he’s traded, which has happened a handful of times in league history.
Regardless, there’s naturally a lot of rumors when it comes to the Knicks job. They have a win-now roster, though that also means a lot of pressure. But even though Kidd has been mentioned in rumors, New York will still have to jump through some hoops to hire him if he’s available.