Since the firing of head coach David Fizdale, a number of names enter the conversation for the job opening in New York City. In the time being the New York Knicks assigned Mike Miller as the interim head coach for the time being. But one name lurking around the league for the position is one Jason Kidd.
Jason Kidd has connections to New York basketball. He played for the Knicks in the 2012-2013 season and was named head coach for the Brooklyn Nets in 2013. Jason Kidd is known for developing young talent and it is believed the Knicks chose to part ways with David Fizdale because of his lack of developing players like Kevin Knox and RJ Barrett. Jason Kidd in his very first year in Brooklyn leads them to a 44-38 record and an exit in the conference semifinals. Next year he chose to leave Brooklyn for Milwaukee because he wanted more power than just being a head coach. Once Jason Kidd took over the Milwaukee Bucks he turned a 15-67 team to a 41-41 record and snuck into the NBA playoffs.
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith spoke on First Take claiming that he was told the Knicks are targeting Jason Kidd as their potential next head coach because they believe Kidd has the ability to lure the Greek Freak to the Big Apple. Kidd was also one of the candidates the Knicks looked at for the head coach job in 2018 before they gave the position to David Fizdale. Back in 2018 when the Bucks fired Jason Kidd because they believed the team wasn’t performing to their fullest potential under him, Giannis was furious with the organization and wanted to leave Milwaukee. With Giannis expecting to hit the free agency market in 2 years, Knicks are once again holding out hope that they won’t strike out again like they did this past summer with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
Kidd has a winning track record and was a crucial part of the development of now superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. Regardless if Jason Kidd does or doesn’t lure Giannis to New York, the Knicks should still target Jason Kidd as their next head coach. He is currently in Los Angeles hoping as an assistant coach with hopes to be promoted in the near future, but with how successful the team has been performing thus far it doesn’t seem likely. Kidd has a winning track record and is known to be excellent at developing young talent which the New York Knicks are filled with. With young studs like Kevin Knox, RJ Barrett, and Mitchell Robinson on the team, Knicks are looking for a coach to come in and turn them into all stars in this league.