Jason Kidd Pens Heartfelt Farewell to Mavericks Fans After Five-Year Run Ends in Dallas
Jason Kidd is no longer the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, and his farewell letter to the city, the franchise, and the fans is making the rounds for all the right reasons. After five years on the sideline, Kidd was let go as part of the organizational reset led by new President of Basketball Operations Masai Ujiri.
Kidd’s parting message landed with grace. “The last five years in Dallas have meant more to my family and me than I can fully put into words,” he wrote. He thanked “the Mavericks organization, the players, coaches, staff, front office, ownership, and every employee behind the scenes who put their heart into this team every single day.”
He went out of his way to thank the fans. “Your energy, loyalty, and love for the Mavericks make Dallas one of the truly special places in sports.” He thanked the city itself for “welcoming my family and me with open arms” and noted that “The friendships and memories created here will stay with us forever.” He closed by saying he leaves “with nothing but gratitude and respect for everyone who was part of this journey.”
That is the kind of exit that endears a coach to a fan base even on the way out the door.
Kidd’s tenure had high moments. He coached the Mavericks to the 2024 NBA Finals. He helped Luka Doncic grow into the player he became. He developed real chemistry with Kyrie Irving after the 2023 trade. He stabilized a culture that had been wobbly under Rick Carlisle’s final years. He brought a Hall of Fame point guard’s mind to the bench.
It also had real failures. The Mavericks regressed in 2025. The Doncic trade that sent the franchise icon to the Lakers gutted the roster and the fan base. Kidd was not the architect of that decision, but he was the public face of the organization during the messiest period in recent franchise history. When Ujiri arrived, a reset was always likely.
The actual reason for the firing has been picked at by reporters. Some say it was a basketball decision. Others point to friction between Kidd’s coaching staff and the new front office. The likely truth is some mix of both. New regimes prefer new voices. Ujiri has a clear vision and wants his own coach to execute it.
Kidd will not be unemployed long. He is one of the most respected basketball minds in the league. He has Finals experience as a coach. He has championship experience as a player. He will get a serious look from any team with a head-coaching opening. Houston, Charlotte, and possibly Portland are on the list of suitors depending on how those searches resolve. Some teams that already have coaches may rethink the situation.
For Kyrie Irving, the firing puts his Mavericks future in further doubt. Top contenders are reportedly monitoring his situation. Irving has been loyal to Kidd. The new front office will have to repair that relationship to keep him in Dallas.
Kidd has owned every step of the way out. He took the high road. He thanked everyone. He kept his dignity. That is the kind of exit that lingers in the league office and in the locker rooms of teams that might need a coach next season.
The next chapter starts soon. Dallas moves on. Jason Kidd will too.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
