Former Mavericks assistant calls Jason Kidd ‘worst guy in the NBA’

If Jason Kidd ever needs a reference from Igor Kokoskov, he should probably keep looking.

Kokoskov, a Mavericks assistant during Kidd’s first season as coach in 2021-22, unloaded on his former boss during an appearance on the Serbian YouTube channel Xs and Os Chat.

“I don’t have a good experience with him,” Kokoskov said, according to a translation shared on social media and relayed by Austin Veazey of NBA on SI.

Kokoskov also questioned Kidd’s abilities as a coach and person. When Steve Nash later called about joining his Brooklyn Nets staff, Kokoskov recalled thinking that he was leaving the “worst guy in the NBA” to work for the best.

So, no, subtlety did not survive the interview. Kokoskov also claimed Kidd was unhappy with his close relationship with Luka Doncic. Kokoskov previously coached Doncic with the Slovenian national team and helped lead the country to the 2017 EuroBasket championship.

That history made Kokoskov a logical addition to Kidd’s first Dallas staff. He left after one season to join Nash in Brooklyn.

Kidd remained with the Mavericks until this summer, when he and the organization “mutually parted ways” following Masai Ujiri’s arrival as president. Dusty May was subsequently hired as coach.

Kokoskov did praise Kidd’s playing career, calling him one of basketball’s greatest playmakers. His assessment of Kidd as a coach and colleague was considerably less charitable.

This is one former employee’s account, and a translated one at that. Kidd has not publicly responded.

But as performance reviews go, this one left very little room for interpretation.