Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd delivered a blunt and profanity-laced response to the media after Saturday night’s 111-107 loss to the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center, pushing back hard against questions surrounding his use of rookie Cooper Flagg at point guard.
The exchange came when Ron Harrod Jr., the Mavericks‘ beat writer, asked Kidd about the national criticism the team has faced for playing Flagg in a primary ball-handling role. Kidd immediately rejected the premise of the question and turned his frustration toward both the reporter and the media in attendance.
“Criticism? That’s your opinion. You guys write that bull****,” Kidd said. “I’ve done this. I’ve played this game. I played it. I know what the f*** I’m doing.” Kidd, a two-time Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, emphasized his belief that his experience gives him authority over lineup and development decisions, particularly when it comes to young players. He argued that the criticism itself is proof that his coaching choices are impactful.
Kidd added more fuel to the fire
“I don’t give a f*** what you guys write because you guys have never played the game,” Kidd continued. “I build players, so I know what the f*** 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.”
The comments came in the wake of a close road loss to Houston, a game in which Dallas struggled late despite cutting into the deficit. Kidd‘s decision to experiment with Flagg as a point guard has been a talking point nationally, with some analysts questioning whether the role best suits the rookie early in his career.
Kidd made it clear he is unfazed by outside opinions and remains confident in his developmental approach, even as scrutiny around the Mavericks continues to grow. Dallas is currently at the 11th spot on the Western Conference, which makes them one of the worst teams in the region.
Read the full article here
