Jason Kidd

Hall of Fame point guard and Mavericks head coach

Jason Frederick Kidd (born March 23, 1973) is an American professional basketball coach and former player. Widely regarded as one of the greatest point guards of all time, Kidd was a 10-time NBA All-Star, a six-time All-NBA Team member, and a nine-time NBA All-Defensive Team member. He won an NBA championship in 2011 as a member of the Dallas Mavericks and was a two-time gold medal winner in the Olympics with the U.S. national team in 2000 and 2008. He has been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame twice: in 2018 for his individual career, and in 2025 as a member of the Redeem Team. In 2021, Kidd was honored as one of the league's greatest players by being named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.

Quick Facts

Born: 23 March 1973
Birthplace: San Francisco, California, U.S.
High school: St. Joseph Notre Dame (Alameda, California)
College: California (1992–1994)
Draft round: 1
Draft pick: 2
Drafted by: Dallas Mavericks
Career position: Point guard

Lore & Background

Kidd played college basketball for the California Golden Bears and was selected by the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the 1994 NBA draft as the second overall pick. He was named co-NBA Rookie of the Year in his first season with the Mavericks, along with Grant Hill. Then, from 1996 to 2001, Kidd played for the Phoenix Suns and later for the New Jersey Nets from 2001 to 2008. He led the Nets to two consecutive NBA Finals appearances in 2002 and 2003.

In the middle of the 2007–08 season, Kidd was traded back to Dallas. At age 38, Kidd won his only NBA championship when Dallas defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals. He finished his playing career in 2013 with the New York Knicks. Upon his retirement, he ranked third in NBA history for career regular season triple-doubles with 107 and third in career playoff triple-doubles with 11. As of 2025, he ranks third on both the NBA all-time list in career assists and the NBA all-time list in career steals.

Reader's Guide

In June 2013, Kidd was hired as the head coach of the Nets, who had relocated from New Jersey to Brooklyn. After one season, he was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks, where he coached for four seasons until he was fired mid-season in 2018. After a season off, he was an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers, with whom he won an NBA championship in 2020; he reunited with the Mavericks organization in 2021 to become the franchise's head coach, reaching the Western Conference finals in his first season and reaching the 2024 NBA Finals in his third season.

Did You Know?

Kidd was born in San Francisco and raised in Oakland; he is biracial, with an African-American father and an Irish-American mother.
He attended St. Joseph Notre Dame High School in Alameda, where he led the Pilots to consecutive state championships and was named the Naismith Award winner as the nation's top high school player.
In college at California, Kidd set an NCAA record for most steals by a freshman (110) and led the nation in assists as a sophomore.
He led the NBA in assists in the 1998–99 season and was the only player ranked among the top 50 in 10 different statistical categories that year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Jason Kidd in relation to the Dallas Mavericks?

Jason Kidd is a dual-era legend who served as the franchise's starting point guard from 1994 to 2008 and currently holds the position of head coach. He is widely celebrated for leading the team to its first-ever NBA championship in 2011 before returning years later to guide them as a strategist.

What was Jason Kidd's specific role during his playing days?

As an elite point guard, Kidd controlled the offense by leading the league in triple-doubles and assists while forming the iconic 'Three J's' trio with Jamal Mashburn and Jim Jackson. His playmaking ability instantly transformed a struggling 13-win team into a playoff contender within his first season.

How does Jason Kidd's story conclude for Dallas?

His narrative reached its peak when he captained the Mavericks to an NBA title in 2011, ending the franchise's championship drought. He later completed his circle by returning to Dallas in 2021 as head coach, where he remains active today.

Did Jason Kidd win an NBA title with Dallas?

Yes, he won his first and only NBA championship as a player with the Mavericks in 2011 after returning to the team from Phoenix. This victory cemented his legacy as the leader who finally brought the trophy to Dallas.