Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd has been fined $35,000 by the NBA, the league announced Monday.
The NBA levied the punishment because Kidd publicly criticized officiating and used profane language during a media interview following the Mavericks’ 111-107 loss to the Houston Rockets on Jan. 31.
Kidd’s comments came after a controversial call late in the game in which the head coach thought Dallas guard Cooper Flagg was fouled on a contested layup. Instead, it was ruled clean, potentially contributing to the Mavericks’ four-point loss. Kidd didn’t mince words in his postgame press conference, not hesitating to call out the game’s officiating.
“I saw a foul. The referees were unacceptable. It’s a foul, and he needs to be at the free throw line,” Kidd said of Flagg. “Now, does he make both? That’s up to the player, but the referees did not do their job. They were terrible.”
Kidd went off on an expletive-filled tirade when he was asked about criticism surrounding his usage of his prized rookie. He then refused to answer any further questions from media members.
“I don’t give a f–k what you guys write. Because you guys have never played the game,” Kidd said. “And so, I build players. So, I know what the f—k I’m doing. So, to take criticism, it only makes me better.”
The loss to the Rockets marked their fourth in a row as they continue to slide further down the standings. They enter Monday’s slate one spot out of a playoff berth in the Western Conference, three-and-a-half games behind the Portland Trail Blazers, and 14.5 games behind the San Antonio Spurs in the Southwest division.
Dallas continues to feel the effects of trading star guard Luka Doncic to the Lakers a year ago. The Mavericks did add 2025 No. 1 pick Flagg, who is having a stellar season, upping his scoring average to 19.8 points per game after 49- and 34-point efforts against Charlotte and Houston, respectively.
Meanwhile, Doncic trade piece and No. 1 scoring option Anthony Davis is currently out with a hand injury he suffered in January.
Kidd is in his fifth year with the Mavericks, trying to turn this season around. He steered Dallas to the NBA Finals in 2023-24, losing to the Boston Celtics. But since then, the Mavericks have yet to show that same level of success, especially after Doncic was shipped off last February.
Now, his fine after Dallas’ defeat to the Rockets is yet another setback across two disappointing years.