Quote Board: Jason Kidd Goes On Expletive-filled Rant After 111-107 Loss To Houston

DALLAS, TEXAS - DECEMBER 03: Head coach Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks reacts during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup game against the Memphis Grizzlies at American Airlines Center on December 03, 2024 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Following the Dallas Mavericks’ 111-107 loss to the Houston Rockets, Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd went and fulfilled his media obligations in quite an unusual fashion. Kidd, who as we well know, is not typically one to give you much in a press conference setting. Well, Saturday night’s postgame presser was much different than any old postgame presser. 

For that, it’s time to open up the quote board for the second time in a week!

Jason Kidd

On Cooper Flagg’s drive to the basket with 25 seconds left in the game

I saw a foul. Sean [Wright], Simone [Jelks] and Jason [Goldberg] (the three officials for the game) were awful tonight. It’s unacceptable. It’s a foul and he needs to be at the free throw line. Does he make both? That’s up to the player.

Well, Jason Kidd decided today was the day he is going to open up the checkbook and make one payable to Adam Silver, because this one will likely cost him $25,000. I get it, it’s been a frustrating year and the Mavs have lost a ton of close games. But in fairness to the officials, Cooper didn’t get a ton of contact on that drive. I’d be willing to bet he says the same thing, and would probably like to have that one back. But hey, that’s life in the league as a rookie. You live and learn.

Now, to the viral quote.

On the criticism he received for playing Cooper Flagg at point guard

Criticism? That’s your opinion. You guys write that [well written article]. I’ve done this, I’ve played this game. I’ve played it at a very high level, and I know what the [rhymes with firetruck] I’m doing. I don’t give a [fudge] about what you guys write, because you guys have never played the game. I build players, so I know what the [wow, another one!] I’m doing. So, if I take criticism, it only makes me better. Because if I wasn’t doing it right, you guys wouldn’t be poking holes in what I’ve done.

If you’ll allow, I’d like to offer my honest reaction to this set of answers from Jason Kidd.

Because Kidd quite literally never gives anything of substance in pressers, this whole thing just feels like a bit. It screams like he came in pissed off, and was looking for a way to defend himself for his team going 32-50 in the 82 regular season games that have passed since the Luka Doncic trade one year ago (Los Angeles, by the way, is 51-31 in the same time with the 2022-23 Mavericks surrounding Luka). And, in case you forgot, who was sitting up there in Cleveland on Feb. 2, saying that he and Nico Harrison were “aligned” in the vision? Oh yeah, that’d be the head coach of the Mavericks, Jason Kidd. Well Jason, I guess this is a bit more than you bargained for?

Oh, and another thing. The complaints about the point Flagg experiment all came because Jason Kidd, head coach of the Mavericks, simply had Cooper Flagg bring the ball up, hand it off to someone, and then sit his happy self in the corner while you tried to force feed Anthony Davis. Those same lineups that Kidd ran in the early season games actually work now because Flagg is able to actually run offense with the ball in his hands. Funny how that works!

So spare me the routine when you, Jason Kidd

• Were (allegedly) advocating for the Luka Doncic trade
• As member of the brain trust, decided that Ryan Nembhard, Brandon Williams and D’Angelo Russell (who has been DNP-CD for weeks now) were the guards you wanted to surround your 18-year-old number one overall pick with
• Worst of all, actively made the first 20 games of the Cooper Flagg experience miserable to watch

However, since none of us here played in the NBA, I probably just made it all up, I don’t even understand what good basketball is. So, I offer my congratulations to Jason Kidd, who is now winning at a 47.5% clip in his career without Luka Doncic on his roster. Maybe he’ll parlay all of that knowledge and wisdom into being the GM one day. Frankly, I just fear it’s going to be for this team.