The New York Knicks have been linked to a number of prominent head coach candidates since they fired Tom Thibodeau last week, but there is reportedly one name at the top of their list.
The Knicks want Jason Kidd to become their next head coach, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. The reporter said on “Get Up” Tuesday morning that he believes the Knicks would hire Kidd without even conducting an interview if the Dallas Mavericks were to allow Kidd out of his contract.
“The Knicks absolutely would like to hire Jason Kidd to be their next head coach. The question is will the Dallas Mavericks allow that, and that’s really where this is. It will be in the Mavericks’ court here,” Windhorst said. “The asking of permission is a formality. If the Mavericks would agree to send Jason Kidd to the Knicks, I believe he would be with the Knicks. There’s not gonna be an interview.”
"The Knicks absolutely would like to hire Jason Kidd to be their next head coach. The question is, will the Dallas Mavericks allow that?"
—@WindhorstESPN 👀 pic.twitter.com/3hxZBjCNPs
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) June 10, 2025
Windhorst reported on Monday that there is mutual interest between Kidd and the Knicks. He said there is a chance the Mavericks could simply tell New York “no,” which is what happened when the Phoenix Suns had interest in hiring Chauncey Billups away from the Portland Trail Blazers last year. Dallas could also entice Kidd to stay by giving him a contract extension. Another option would be to trade Kidd to the Knicks.
Kidd played for the Knicks for a brief period during his Hall of Fame career in 2012-13. He is also close with veteran NBA trainer Casey Smith, who was controversially phased out by the Mavericks a while back. Smith has since taken a job with the Knicks.
The 52-year-old Kidd just completed his fourth season as the head coach in Dallas. He led the team to the NBA Finals a year ago, but things changed dramatically for the Mavericks after Luka Doncic was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in a stunning move. Kidd suggested publicly that he had no say in the deal.
The Knicks have been linked to multiple coaches who are under contract with other teams, but their search may end rather abruptly if they can find a way to hire Kidd.