Grading Jason Kidd in his first season as Dallas Mavericks head coach

Grading 2021-2022 season for Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd: Overall

The Mavs have the best young superstar in the league. They were supposed to be in the playoffs and be a difficult matchup for any opponent, but the first-year head coach exceeded all expectations. Despite a slow start, they finished fourth in the Western Conference and were just one win away from being third. Dallas won its first playoff series since 2011 before upsetting the top-seeded Suns to reach the conference finals for the first time since winning the title.

Jason Kidd was the perfect hire for the Dallas Mavericks. He took a special team and enhanced it. Kidd bonded with superstar Luka Doncic, but every player on the roster had a voice. That empowered players to be the best versions of themselves.

Things may have not gone as planned in Kidd’s first two head coaching stints, but he did a fantastic job during his first season in Dallas. The Mavericks' defensive and chemistry improvements were highlights in the first deep postseason run since Dirk Nowitzki led them to the championship in 2011 with Kidd as the point guard.

Overall grade for Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd’s 2021-2022 season: A-plus

Fans could not have expected more from Kidd. The Mavericks did not win the title, but nobody expected them to be in the conference finals. Jalen Brunson and Dorian Finney-Smith had career years as Luka Doncic led the team on a deep playoff run, but defense and adjustments helped them keep earning victories.

Expectations will be higher entering head coach Jason Kidd’s second season leading the Dallas Mavericks, but the Hall of Fame is up for the challenge. Stay tuned because the best is still yet to come.