Igor Kokoskov's Jason Kidd comments vindicate Mavericks' decision to move on

In a podcast appearance on X&O's Chat, former Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Igor Kokoskov spoke about the difference between American and European basketball culture, his vast coaching career, and perhaps most interestingly, his time with the Mavericks, where he offered a candid recap of his time in Dallas alongside former head coach Jason Kidd.

Yet, after praising Kidd as a player, Kokoskov offered a much different assessment of Kidd as a coach, one that sheds more light on his experience in Dallas.

Igor Kokoskov's comments shed light on Jason Kidd's time in Dallas

Rather bluntly, Kokoskov said, "I [didn't] have a good experience with him, nor do I have a high opinion of him off the court or as a head coach."

Building on that sentiment, Kokoskov went into more detail, explaining that Kidd landed several desirable head-coaching opportunities based on "his name and reputation as a legendary player."

Kokoskov insinuated that many of those opportunities didn't exactly work out. For instance, Kidd went 44-38 with the Brooklyn Nets before bolting to the Milwaukee Bucks, where he owned a losing record despite coaching Giannis Antetokounmpo's rise. Lastly, he faltered with Dallas, even with Luka Doncic at the helm.

Kokoskov then provided a much deeper, more personal cut, suggesting that Kidd couldn't get over the Eastern European-born coach's relationship with then-Mavericks star Doncic. He later stated that Kidd had "personal issues," which Kokoskov didn't want to get involved in.

While it's impossible to put two and two together without further explanation from Kokoskov, it's fair to assume he was alluding to Kidd's power complex, which is what seemingly led Kidd to yearn for as much control as possible during his tenure with several teams, including the Mavericks.

During his later seasons with the Mavericks, Kidd was reportedly, even though he's denied it, involved in Dallas' ill-fated decision to send Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in one of the league's most divisive trades in recent memory. Moreover, following Nico Harrison's dismissal (because he was the primary catalyst behind the trade), Kidd reportedly sought to assume team president duties in Dallas.

Of course, we now know how that ended, with team governor Patrick Dumont hiring Masai Ujiri as team president, ultimately leading to Kidd's departure. Likely, it was because Kidd sought a greater share of the power, something that was no longer available with Ujiri, a splash hire who immediately took control of the Mavericks' basketball operations.

Kokoskov's assessment adds another layer to Kidd's exit

Kokoskov's comments don't prove every report surrounding Kidd's tenure, but they do provide another firsthand account that suggests Dallas had legitimate reasons to believe a leadership change was necessary.

All in all, Kokoskov's sentiment vindicates Dallas' decision to move on. The former coach is hardly lacking in credibility, having coached for more than 30 years and spent 24 seasons on NBA sidelines, including a stint as head coach of the Phoenix Suns. He's just about as credible as credible gets, and his opinion on Kidd carries plenty of weight.

And when someone with that level of experience says Kidd is "the worst guy in the NBA," it goes a long way in backing the Mavericks' decision to wipe their hands clean and move forward.

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