Jason Kidd expressed his frustration with media criticism following the Dallas Mavericks’ 111-107 loss to the Houston Rockets on Saturday night. After the game, he was questioned about the national scrutiny regarding his decision to use 2025 first-overall pick Cooper Flagg as a point guard. Kidd did not hold back his response, emphasizing his extensive experience in the game.
“Criticism? That’s your opinion,” Kidd stated assertively. “You guys write that bull—-. I’ve done this. I’ve played the game. I know what the (expletive) I’m doing.” He insisted that he builds players and views criticism as an opportunity for improvement, asserting, “If I wasn’t doing it right, you guys wouldn’t be poking holes in what I’ve done.” Kidd then concluded his remarks and left without fielding further questions.
This loss marked the Mavericks’ fourth consecutive defeat, leaving them with a record of 19-30, placing them 11th in the Western Conference. Despite the team’s struggles, Flagg has shown remarkable talent. In the game against the Charlotte Hornets earlier in the week, he scored an impressive 49 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, although the Mavericks were unable to secure a win. This performance set a new single-game scoring record for a teenager in NBA history.
Flagg continued his noteworthy play against the Rockets, contributing 34 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists, though it was not enough to overcome their rival. Over the season, Flagg has averaged 19.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.1 assists, ranking fourth among rookies. However, he has also dealt with some challenges, sitting second in turnovers among rookies with 2.2 per game, and possessing a minus-2.7 rating, one of the lower figures for first-year players.
Kidd’s approach to Flagg is reminiscent of his earlier coaching style with rookie Giannis Antetokounmpo at the Milwaukee Bucks, where he encouraged Antetokounmpo to also take on the ball-handling responsibilities early in his career. Though Kidd was eventually replaced by Mike Budenholzer, he played a crucial role in Antetokounmpo’s development, guiding him to win the Most Improved Player award in 2017 and achieving multiple accolades thereafter.
While the Mavericks currently face obstacles, the development of young talents like Flagg provides a glimmer of hope for the team’s future.