Dallas Mavericks eye multiple title-winning college coach as Jason Kidd's successor

The Dallas Mavericks made a huge offseason decision on Tuesday by moving on from former head coach Jason Kidd. With the franchise now entering a new phase, they are expected to evaluate several coaching candidates in the coming weeks, with many big names already emerging in the discussion.

According to basketball insider Brett Siegel, one potential target the Mavericks are likely to contact is Duke head coach Jon Scheyer.

A major factor driving Scheyer’s appeal is his close connection to the Mavericks’ cornerstone of the future, Cooper Flagg. Scheyer coached Flagg throughout his standout 2024-25 freshman season at Duke. It was the year in which Flagg’s development and production firmly established him as the No. 1 overall pick. 

That experience gives Scheyer a deep understanding of how to best maximize Flagg’s rare combination of size, decision-making ability, and defensive versatility. Under Scheyer’s guidance, Flagg earned multiple national honors as a consensus first-team All-American. He averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game while shooting 48.1% from the field and 38.5% from three-point range.

Following a chaotic stretch in the Mavericks that included the blockbuster Luka Doncic trade and Kidd’s firing, bringing in a coach who already has established trust with Flagg could offer immediate stability. It may also help unlock his full potential as the team’s centerpiece.

Scheyer’s resume at Duke also strengthens his case, as he quickly maintained the program’s elite status after taking over from Mike Krzyzewski in 2022. He has already led the program to three ACC Tournament titles, two regular-season conference championships, earned ACC and NABC Coach of the Year honors in 2026, and guided the team to a Final Four appearance alongside Flagg in 2025.

There is a strong fit between Scheyer and the Mavericks, but convincing him to leave Duke would be a major challenge.

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