Jason Kidd's potential ESPN role makes little sense after Mavericks exit

The head coach-to-analyst pipeline is nothing new. Former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has already made a name for himself as an analyst following his illustrious tenure in the NFL, while several ex-NBA head coaches are still heard from following their coaching tenures, such as Doc Rivers and Stan Van Gundy.

Yet, just because you were a good coach, or even a player, doesn't mean it'll translate to analysis, and a recent report will have us all second-guessing whether this pipeline is still one that's worthwhile to dive into.

According to Marc Stein, former Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd is in "advanced talks" with ESPN to join the network's NBA studio coverage. And while Kidd certainly has plenty of basketball knowledge to offer, he doesn't exactly seem like a natural fit for a career in media.

Jason Kidd doesn't exactly fit the analyst mold

The reactions to Stein's post on X say it all, with some comparing Kidd's personality to watching paint dry and others joking that his commentary would be the perfect cure for insomnia.

Of course, we collectively have no idea how Kidd would fare in the studio. No one knew ex-Steelers coach Mike Tomlin was a Minecraft aficionado. Maybe Kidd has some sort of special sauce that could make him a terrific analyst. Nonetheless, there isn't much to base his potential on other than his playing career or, more recently, his tenure as the Mavericks' head coach.

And, oh boy, his tenure in Dallas surely gave us all plenty of ammunition to suggest he wouldn't be the most appealing analyst. From boorish interviews to disparaging remarks about his character by media members and former players, it's seemingly a "proceed with caution" situation when it comes to Kidd.

For starters, Kidd's infamous "I'm not playing. I'm watching, just like you guys" quote still lingers to this day, while his "I know what the (expletive) I'm doing," in response to starting Cooper Flagg at point guard, offers another glimpse into his rather tactless personality.

Moreover, he was called "insufferable" by a former player, and his firing was hailed as "great" by a media member who personally knew Kidd. These attacks on Kidd's character should by no means be used to make a hiring decision, but they still offer a glimpse into his personality.

ESPN may see something others don't

When picturing an analyst, one would think of someone insightful, personable, and even charismatic. Someone who's appealing to the masses. Not someone whose insight is "I'm watching, just like you guys," or someone who uses expletives to defend a coaching decision. And assuredly not someone who's been deemed insufferable by a fellow media member.

It's just surprising, is all. Kidd doesn't seem like the ideal media personality, but again, that's just coming from his time as a player and as a coach. There's surely a chance that he shines in the studio, but based on what we've seen from him in recent years, that's almost impossible to project.

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