"I don’t think it’s J-Kidd’s problem"- Mark Cuban backs Mavs head coach despite dropping from the 4th seed to a potential playoff exit
Dallas Mavericks team owner Mark Cuban has appreciated Jason Kidd’s poise, leadership and basketball IQ since hiring him as the team’s head coach. Despite the Mavs’ struggles this season where they could be eliminated from playoff contention, Cuban has not changed his tone.
During an unscheduled session with the media before the Mavericks took on the Sacramento Kings, the billionaire owner had this to say about the coach:
“I don’t think it’s J-Kidd’s problem.”
Mark Cuban said Wednesday that “things went south when the parents got involved” when negotiating with Jalen Brunson.
Cuban’s comment suggested Brunson’s father, Rick Brunson, was to blame for the Mavericks losing Jalen Brunson to New York in free agency.
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The Mavericks won 123-119 over the Sacramento Kings to keep their play-in tournament hopes alive. They need to sweep their remaining two games to have a chance of punching a ticket into the pre-playoff format at the expense of the OKC Thunder.
10 months ago, Jason Kidd coached Luka Doncic and the Mavericks to the Western Conference Finals. Despite losing to the eventual NBA champs Golden State Warriors, Cuban was excited about their future. That previously glittering future could end in the next few days if Dallas loses one of its last two games.
Kidd may not be the biggest problem but he’s been a part of what has put the Mavericks in this situation. He has made some questionable lineup calls that even Doncic seemed to be confused about on a few occasions.
Mark Cuban, on the other hand, has plenty of dirt on his hands for the way his team has looked like a playoff contender. He authorized several roster moves that made the Dallas Mavericks worse than when they started the season.
Cuban insisted that Jalen Brunson’s signing with the New York Knicks was already out of his hands:
“Things went south when the parents got involved.”
Mark Cuban is blaming Rick Brunson for the Mavs losing Jalen Brunson in free agency, saying “things went south when the parents got involved.”
Losing Brunson hurt them, but Mark Cuban’s front office also panicked. They traded Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith to the Brooklyn Nets for Kyrie Irving. From fourth in the Western Conference during the trade, they’ve dropped to 11th in the Western Conference with one foot out the door.
Both Mark Cuban and Jason Kidd are two of the reasons why Dallas is on the brink of elimination.
Also read: "Anybody can score on us"- Luka Doncic doesn't think Kyrie Irving is the reason for the Mavs' potential exit from the playoffs
Mark Cuban is excited for next season’s campaign with Jason Kidd at the helm of the Dallas Mavericks
Regardless of what happens this season, Mark Cuban has all but guaranteed Jason Kidd will be Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks’ shot-caller.
In a pre-game conference before the Mavericks-Kings game, Cuban had this to say about the Hall of Famer point guard’s status next season:
“Did you guys ask me that question last year? F**k no. So why would you ask it now? I'm just asking…You didn't ask that question last year."
Jason Kidd, when asked about Mark Cuban’s endorsement of Jason Kidd and his excitement about running it back next year:
"Did you guys ask me that question last year? Fu*k no. So why would you ask it now? I'm just asking…You didn't ask that question last year."
(via… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… https://t.co/x23kLnsKuF
The media didn’t ask him that question after the run to the Western Conference Finals. It’s hugely different this year, but Cuban has his head coach moving forward.
You may also like to read: "So why would you ask it now?" - Jason Kidd was puzzled when reporters asked about his future after a horrendous season with the Mavs