When reserve guard Frank Ntilikina stepped onto the court with 3:28 left in the third quarter during the Dallas Mavericks’ 2021-22 season opener, it marked a milestone for head coach Jason Kidd in his first home game with the team.
Ntilikina was the last of the Mavericks’ 15 active players to get some playing time that night. Kidd managed his team as though he was coaching a youth league, which drew some raised eyebrows. However, in his postgame press conference, Kidd explained that the decision stemmed from a suggestion by the three-man leadership council he had established. The council felt that giving every player a chance to play in the opener would promote team unity.
“We’re not doing that against San Antonio,” Kidd joked recently, reflecting on the Mavs’ upcoming 2024-25 season opener against the Spurs. “But it was a great idea at the time.”
Kidd’s willingness to try out the council’s idea wasn’t just about sending a message to the team—it was especially directed at Luka Doncic. Now, three years later, Doncic is one of the last few remaining players from that time, and the sole member of that leadership council, which initially included Kristaps Porzingis and Tim Hardaway Jr.
Kidd’s goal with the leadership council was to foster open communication between him and the players, something that was often lacking under previous coach Rick Carlisle.
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“The more you talk, the better,” Doncic said that night. “Talking solves things, so I think it’s a good idea.”
Although the leadership council no longer exists, the culture of open communication that Kidd initiated still thrives. Nowadays, it’s not just about the stars—like Doncic and Kyrie Irving, who joined in 2023—but the entire team is part of the conversation. Coming off the Mavs’ first Finals appearance since 2011, Kidd now faces a new challenge: integrating Klay Thompson, a future Hall of Famer with four championship rings, who joined the Mavericks this past summer in pursuit of a fifth, and Doncic’s first.
“The only way it works is if there’s communication,” Kidd said, reflecting on the lessons from his leadership council days. “All the side chatter, all the individual silos—they don’t win. They just break down teams.”
Many in the Mavericks organization believe Kidd has the unique ability to manage the egos and expectations of his star players—something he learned through his own ups and downs during his two-decade playing career. His approach is all about building relationships, knowing when to encourage and when to challenge. Now, with Thompson added to the mix after a tough final season with the Golden State Warriors, Kidd is tasked with creating harmony within a high-powered team.
“Kidd’s basketball IQ is off the charts, but he’s also a great people person,” said Irving. “He knows what makes a player tick, and he’s not afraid to push us in the right direction.”
Mavericks assistant coach Jared Dudley added, “Honestly, there are maybe two or three coaches in the league who could coach both Luka and Kyrie and keep things running smoothly, and Kidd is one of them.”
Irving has a special connection with Kidd, which began years before they joined forces in Dallas. As a rising star with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Irving sought advice from Kidd during a dinner arranged by a mutual connection. Irving admired Kidd’s leadership skills from his time with the New Jersey Nets and picked his brain about what it takes to guide an NBA team. Since then, they’ve stayed close, with Irving even attending Kidd’s Hall of Fame induction in 2018.
“Kai is a special guy,” Kidd said. “He wants to learn, he wants to be great, and he’s not afraid of failing. He wants to be coached and pushed to win a championship.”
Irving’s arrival in Dallas helped fill the leadership void left by players like Porzingis. His influence has extended beyond his incredible offensive abilities, emerging as a vocal leader for the Mavericks.
“He’s one of the best teammates I’ve ever been around,” said assistant coach Sean Sweeney. “His leadership pushes everyone to be better, and he treats everyone with respect. That energy is contagious.”
Irving has also become an extension of Kidd in the locker room, alongside veteran forward Markieff Morris, who earned Kidd’s respect while playing together on the championship-winning Lakers team in 2020. Kidd regularly engages Irving in deep conversations about basketball and beyond, sometimes looping in Doncic when discussing team strategy.
For Kidd, disagreement is healthy. “It’s okay to not always agree,” he said, explaining his relationship with Irving. “The key is figuring out how we can be better together.”
Last summer, Kidd texted Doncic: “Hey, can we play faster?” He’d been thinking about how the team could improve after their disappointing season, and he wanted to start a conversation with his star player. Doncic quickly responded, pointing out that the Mavs would need to inbound the ball faster. That small change helped Dallas jump from 28th in pace to 7th last season.
Kidd has carefully nurtured his relationship with Doncic, knowing that it was a potentially fragile situation when he took over. He has chosen his battles wisely, challenging Doncic only when necessary, like when he called him out for a lack of defensive effort during a critical playoff series.
“That could’ve gone either way,” Kidd recalled. “But Luka responded. He fought back and made a stand.”
Under Kidd’s guidance, Doncic has improved in key areas, including his conditioning and rapport with referees. Kidd continues to hold Doncic accountable, knowing that if he can’t push his best player, the team won’t follow.
As the Mavs prepare for another exciting season, Kidd welcomes the challenge of integrating Thompson into a lineup that already features two elite playmakers in Doncic and Irving. Though the road ahead will likely have its ups and downs, Kidd is confident that the team’s open communication and shared commitment to winning will pay off.
“It’s all about the journey,” Kidd said. “We’ll figure it out, and hopefully by the time March and April roll around, we’ll be ready to make another deep run.”
