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Mavericks Move On From Jason Kidd as Masai Ujiri Begins Organizational Reset

Ujiri says a clean slate will let him reshape the Mavericks' basketball operations around rookie Cooper Flagg.

Overview

  • The Mavericks and head coach Jason Kidd mutually agreed to part ways Tuesday, May 19, 2026, and the team has opened a comprehensive search for a new head coach.
  • Masai Ujiri, who was hired as team president two weeks earlier, said the decision was his and that he wanted a clean slate to set a new direction, and reporting indicates owner Patrick Dumont signed off.
  • Reports say Kidd still had about four years and more than $40 million left on a multiyear extension at the time of his departure.
  • Ujiri and new general manager Mike Schmitz have made Cooper Flagg the franchise centerpiece and will evaluate how established veterans, notably Kyrie Irving, fit that long-term plan.
  • The move completes an early overhaul that followed the Luka Dončić trade, major injuries, a 26-56 season and the firing of GM Nico Harrison, and it signals a broader review of coaching, medical and scouting operations.