DHJ Quick Take
- The “11th Hour” Defense: Jason Kidd broke his silence on the Luka Dončić trade, providing a rare, blunt defense of his role. He stated clearly, “I was informed at the 11th hour, and that’s the truth,” distancing himself from the decision-making process.
- Firing Back at Cuban: Following Mark Cuban’s explosive podcast remarks that appeared to implicate him in the deal, Kidd confirmed he contacted the former owner directly. He used Friday’s session to shut down the “surmise who was in the room” narrative once and for all.
- Truth Over Narrative: By declaring, “I’m not here to hide anything,” Kidd positioned himself as a coach who was bypassed by former GM Nico Harrison rather than an architect of the franchise-altering move that sent Dončić to the Lakers.
- A Pivot to the Future: While acknowledging his championship history with Cuban, Kidd shifted the focus to the resources provided by current governor Patrick Dumont, emphasizing organizational unity as the team builds around Cooper Flagg.
DALLAS — Jason Kidd addressed reporters Friday morning at American Airlines Center in a rare shootaround media session, offering his most direct public comments yet on the Luka Dončić trade and the subsequent remarks made by former owner Mark Cuban that appeared to place blame for the deal squarely on Kidd’s shoulders.
He did not mince words.
“I was not part of the process,” Kidd told reporters ahead of Friday night’s game against the Orlando Magic. “I was informed at the 11th hour, and that’s the truth.”
The comments came roughly one year after a trade that remains one of the most scrutinized transactions in recent NBA history. Dončić, a six-time All-Star now in his first full season with Los Angeles, is averaging 33.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists for a Lakers team sitting as the third seed in the Western Conference. He and the Lakers will make their second and final visit to American Airlines Center this season on Sunday, although a hamstring injury suffered on Thursday in Oklahoma City is likely to sideline him.
Before taking questions, Kidd opened with a statement of his own, framing the moment around what he believes the Mavericks still have going for them under current leadership.
“We have the best owner in the league, and we have the best fans,” Kidd said, a direct nod to current team governor Patrick Dumont and majority shareholder Miriam Adelson. “I know one of our owners, Cuban, mentioned that I knew about the trade. Unfortunately, as I’ve said, I was not part of the process.”
It was not the first time Kidd had spoken about the matter. He noted that he had already addressed it publicly during the team’s recent road stop in Milwaukee and that his position had not changed.
“The comment that I made in Milwaukee still stands,” Kidd said. “We have to move forward.”
What Mark Cuban Said About the Luka Dončić Trade
The backdrop for Friday’s session was Cuban’s appearance on Intersections, a podcast hosted by former Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert and entrepreneur Kyle Waldrep. A clip from the interview dropped Monday before the full episode aired Tuesday.
Cuban recalled the night of Feb. 1, 2025, when then-general manager Nico Harrison informed him of the trade that sent Dončić, who had spent 6.5 seasons as the face of the franchise, to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick. Cuban said he then called Dumont.
“He started telling me stuff that wasn’t true that he had been told as the reason why he approved it,” Cuban said on the podcast. “I’m like, That’s not true. This is a mistake. But nothing I can do.”
Cuban also dismissed the narrative that Dončić’s conditioning or off-court habits justified the deal, pushing back against reports citing factors such as his weight and lifestyle choices as reasons for the trade.
“I don’t care if he’s overweight, he’s gonna give you 30, 10, and 10 and win the game,” Cuban said. “That’s what made Luka special. You don’t trade that. I think some people got in their feelings.”
Mark Cuban Appears to Implicate Jason Kidd, Calls Out Coach and GM
The most pointed portion of Cuban’s comments came when he appeared to implicate Kidd directly.
“It wasn’t Michael Finley, and you can surmise who else was in the room,” Cuban said.
It’s a remark widely interpreted as pointing the finger at Kidd, who, like Harrison, had a longstanding relationship with Davis. Cuban then went further.
“That doesn’t justify it for our coach and our general manager to stand up and trade our best player,” Cuban said.
Cuban also said he believed there was animosity between Harrison and Dončić’s agent, Bill Duffy.
“I don’t think they got along,” Cuban said.
Jason Kidd Responds to Mark Cuban: ‘I’m Here to Tell You the Truth’
Kidd said he called Cuban directly after those podcast comments went public.
“I called Mark right away,” Kidd said. “We had that conversation. It’s not a public conversation.”
Despite the tension, Kidd was measured in his characterization of Cuban, who sold his controlling stake in the franchise in 2023.
“Mark has done a lot for the Dallas Mavericks, for the city, and for myself,” Kidd said. “This isn’t about he said or she said. He has his opinion, and I’m here to tell you the truth.”
He also acknowledged Cuban’s standing in the league while drawing a clear line around his own current role.
“Cuban is one of the best in the league,” Kidd said. “His role has changed. For me, I’m here to coach the players and put them in position to succeed.”
Kidd leaned on his personal history with Cuban, dating back to his playing days in Dallas.
“I played for Mark. I won a championship,” Kidd said. “Understanding roles have changed — I was a player, now I’m the coach. His role has changed as well. But understanding that he wants to win, he loves the Mavericks — we all understand what’s in front of us. This is a championship organization.”
Jason Kidd on Being Blindsided: ‘I Found Out at the 11th Hour’
When asked whether he felt blindsided by the trade, Kidd acknowledged the sentiment while stopping short of expressing outrage.
“Blindsided — maybe that’s a good way to put it,” Kidd said. “But when I found out about it, I just looked at it as part of the job. Cuban has the right, and I’m here to tell you the truth. I’m not here to hide anything — I’m telling you what happened.”
Kidd clarified that learning about the trade came down to a single, last-minute conversation with Harrison.
“It was the time that I was called to see Nico, brought into the room, and told what was going to happen,” Kidd said. “That’s what happened. That’s the communication, the details, and what was going to take place.”
Kidd was also asked whether he reached out to Dončić following Cuban’s comments. Kidd made clear that any personal dynamic between the two is now secondary to the competitive reality.
“Luka’s on the other side — he’s trying to beat us, and we’re trying to beat him,” Kidd said. “There’s not going to be a phone call. Luka plays for the Lakers. This is internal. When things like this happen, we talk about it internally and move forward.”
Dallas Mavericks Moving Forward Under Patrick Dumont
Kidd also called on everyone in the organization to commit to a shared direction, repeatedly invoking the theme of unity.
“You want the Mavs to win, Patrick wants the Mavs to win, Mark wants the Mavs to win,” Kidd said. “Everyone who wears the Maverick shield should be excited — not just the players, but the people on the business side. There’s a lot of pride in working for the Mavericks. We all understand what’s in front of us. It’s hard to win in this league.”
Through the organizational turbulence, with Harrison since fired and Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi now serving as co-interim general managers, Kidd maintained that the current roster has not backed down. He pointed to the team’s competitive play in an NBA most 43 clutch games amid a 24-52 season as evidence of a locker room that remains engaged, singled out a recent game against the Minnesota Timberwolves as a teaching moment around physicality, and spoke with genuine optimism about what this group can become.
“Our record is not what it should be — we’ve been in a lot of close games,” Kidd said. “But we are playing hard, and we appreciate the fans coming, especially when we’re not in the playoffs. We’ve been involved in a lot of close games, and we’re learning as a young team what it takes to win. I brought up the Minnesota game — the physicality. This group has to go through that to learn. And going into next season, we’ll be prepared. It’ll be exciting.”
Kidd also made clear that the effort on the floor reflects more than just individual motivation.
“This group is playing hard, and that’s a reflection not just of the coach, but of the group in that locker room,” he said.
He repeatedly praised current ownership and struck an optimistic tone about the path ahead under Dumont as the team builds around reigning No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg and other standout young talent. The team also has the sixth-best odds of landing the top pick in the upcoming draft.
“When you look at Patrick, he gives us the resources to be able to do that,” Kidd said. “We’ve planted our flag, and we have an opportunity to build around this. This is an exciting time. We’re excited about the end of the season and the opportunity we have going forward.”
Mark Cuban: ‘I Regret Who I Sold To’
Those comments came despite Cuban’s sharpest podcast remarks being directed not at the players or the front office, but at the ownership group itself.
Cuban said he regrets the decision to sell to Dumont and Adelson.
“I don’t regret selling. I regret who I sold to,” Cuban said. “I made a lot of mistakes in the process, and I’ll leave it at that.”
Dallas and Orlando are scheduled to tip-off Friday night at American Airlines Center. Dončić and the Lakers arrive Sunday.
More Mavericks Coverage on Dallas Hoops Journal
- Dallas Mavericks’ Jason Kidd Responds To Mark Cuban’s Latest Comments On Luka Dončić Trade: ‘When Are We Going To Move On?’
- Mark Cuban Calls Luka Dončić Trade A ‘Mistake’ For Dallas Mavericks One Year Later
- Dirk Nowitzki Feels Dallas Mavericks Fans Were ‘Robbed’ By Nico Harrison’s Luka Dončić Trade, Reacts To GM’s Firing
- ‘Mentally Taxing’: Cooper Flagg Opens Up On Weight Of Losing Dallas Mavericks Season
- Dallas Mavericks’ Michael Finley Voiced Strongest Opposition To Luka Dončić Trade
- ‘We Don’t Talk About Rookie Of The Year’: Cooper Flagg And Kon Knueppel Keep Duke Brotherhood Above The Race
- Dallas Mavericks Coach Jason Kidd Calls Cooper Flagg The ‘Clear-Cut’ NBA Rookie Of The Year
- ‘Countdown Started’: God Shammgod Felt Luka Dončić Trade Triggered ‘Spooky Times’ for Dallas Mavericks
