The Knicks are considering a Hall of Fame name with organizational ties in their coaching search after the firing of Tom Thibodeau.
The Knicks will “formally ask for permission…in the coming days” to speak with current Mavericks coach Jason Kidd about their vacancy, according to a report Friday by longtime NBA writer Mark Stein on his Substack account.
Kidd, who played the final season of his NBA career with the Knicks during their 54-win campaign under Mike Woodson in 2012-13, led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals one year ago.
Kidd’s first year at the helm with the Mavs also marked the final season for Jalen Brunson in Dallas, and they developed a strong relationship before Brunson became a two-time All-Star point guard after signing with the Knicks as a free agent in 2022.
The Mavs missed the playoffs after trading superstar guard Luka Doncic to the Lakers in February, but they landed the No. 1 overall pick — expected to be Duke’s Cooper Flagg — in the lottery last month.
Kidd began his head-coaching career with the Nets upon retirement as a player in 2013-14, but the former point guard spent only one season in Brooklyn before moving to the Bucks the following year.
The Nets recouped two second-round draft picks as compensation.
The Celtics also received an unprotected first-round pick as compensation from the Clippers to facilitate Doc Rivers switching teams in 2013.
The now 52-year-old Kidd spent three-plus seasons coaching Giannis Antetokounmpo early in the two-time MVP’s career in Milwaukee, compiling a 139-152 record before getting fired 45 games into the 2017-18 season.
Following two years as an assistant coach with the Lakers, he was hired in Dallas in 2021 to replace Rick Carlisle, who has fronted the Pacers to the Finals this spring.
Kidd’s career winning percentage as a head coach is .516 (362-339) plus a 31-33 mark in postseason play.
Kidd signed a two-year contract extension through 2026-27 in Dallas in May of last year during the Mavs’ run to the Finals, amid reports that the Lakers wanted to interview him to replace Darvin Ham.
Kidd also had been considered by the Knicks and was reported to be the runner-up when the Knicks tabbed Thibodeau as their head coach in 2020.
ESPN insider Tim McMahon reported earlier this week that Kidd’s “ears would perk up” if the Knicks expressed interest in him, adding “I would not dismiss that possibility.”
Team president Leon Rose axed Thibodeau after four trips to the playoffs in five seasons after the Knicks lost to Indiana last week in the Eastern Conference finals.
Other names linked to the Knicks’ opening include former associate coach Johnnie Bryant, who spent last season on Kenny Atkinson’s staff with the Cavaliers.
Stein also reported that any potential overtures by the Knicks seeking permission to speak with Houston head coach Ime Udoka “would be swiftly rebuffed” by the Rockets.