Report: Mavericks Coach Jason Kidd Has ‘Very Strong Relationships’ With Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd has “very strong relationships” with stars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. 

Kidd is signed through next season. The Mavericks can sign him to an extension this summer. 

“Kidd has very strong relationships with star guards Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving,” Stein wrote. “As covered in our recent piece above about Irving’s first year-plus in Dallas, Kidd’s presence has been an unquestioned plus in the equation that has enabled Dončić and Irving to defy countless skeptics (yours truly included) and form one of the league’s most potent partnerships. An extension for Kidd before the final year of his current deal thus seems a natural.”

Dallas is 50-30 on the season. The team will face the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the 2024 playoffs. 

The Mavericks lost to the Golden State Warriors in the 2022 Western Conference Finals and missed the playoffs last season. Kidd is 140-104 in the regular season and 9-9 in the postseason as Dallas’ head coach. 

Under Kidd, the Mavericks are fifth in the NBA in points per game, 20th in points per game allowed and ninth in net rating this season. 

An NBA executive told Hoops Wire that he believes Irving and Doncic are the best duo in the NBA. Doncic and Irving are averaging a combined 59.5 points per game this season. 

“Luka and Kyrie are the best duo in the NBA,” the exec told Hoops Wire. “Their chemistry on the court is off the charts. They complement each other so well and they genuinely like each other.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if Dallas makes a serious run in the playoffs. I don’t see a defense stopping Luka and Kyrie in a seven-game series.”

Doncic is averaging 33.9 points, 9.2 rebounds and 9.8 assists this season, while Irving is averaging 25.6 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.2 assists.