Lakers assistant Jason Kidd has withdrawn his name from consideration for the Trail Blazers coaching position, he told Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Star guard Damian Lillard told multiple outlets he preferred Kidd as the Blazers’ next coach after they mutually parted ways with Terry Stotts.
“Portland’s a first-class organization and will have great candidates for its head coaching job, but I’ve decided not to be one of them,” Kidd told ESPN. “Whoever they choose will have big shoes to fill from Terry.”
Stotts had been Blazers coach since 2012, the same year that Lillard was drafted. “I love Terry,” Lillard told The Athletic. “And I will miss him as my coach.”
He then endorsed Kidd by telling Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, “Jason Kidd is the guy I want.”
But Kidd felt that such a declaration put the Blazers in an “awkward position,” and therefore removed his name. The Blazers have yet to reach out to any candidates, Wojnarowski reported.
Kidd, 48, has coached both the Nets and Bucks, compiling a 183-190 record in five seasons overall.
Per Wojnarowski, other potential Blazers candidates include ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy, Clippers assistant Chauncey Billups, Michigan’s Juwan Howard and Nets assistant Mike D’Antoni. Lillard has also endorsed Billups.
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