Knicks hoping date with coveted Jason Kidd and his dysfunctional Mavericks brings first road win

The next chance for the Knicks to capture their first road win of the season comes against the coach they coveted to fill their vacancy this past offseason. 

And the league’s top rookie. And a team that has become the face of dysfunction. 

There is plenty of reason for intrigue.

The Knicks carry an 0-4 road record to Dallas for Wednesday’s clash against Jason Kidd and Cooper Flagg’s Mavericks. 

After the Knicks fired Tom Thibodeau, there was mutual interest between them and Kidd, The Post’s Stefan Bondy reported at the time. Kidd’s final season as a player was with the Knicks, and as a coach, he led the Mavericks to a Finals appearance after the 2023-24 season. 

But the Mavericks rejected the request by the Knicks to interview Kidd and then reportedly gave him a multiyear contract extension. The Knicks eventually hired Mike Brown as coach. 

Brown and Kidd have started the season on completely different trajectories. 

The Knicks, though they lost Monday to the Heat, look dangerous at 8-5 under Brown’s free-flowing, 3-point-happy offense along with a much-strengthened bench. The potential that his changes could bring is evident. 

Kidd’s Mavericks, meanwhile, are a mess, owning a 4-11 record. They recently fired GM Nico Harrison, who had become persona non grata following his controversial decision to trade away Luka Doncic to the Lakers last season. Anthony Davis, the main return in that trade, remains out with a calf injury. Kyrie Irving is not close to returning after tearing his ACL in March. 

Dallas head coach Jason Kidd and forward Cooper Flagg look on during the second quarter of the Mavericks’ loss to the Clippers in an NBA Cup game at the American Airlines Center on Nov. 14, 2025. Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

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Mavericks home games had grown toxic this year, with fans constantly chanting “Fire Nico,” which Kidd had called “disrespectful.” That dynamic has cooled since Harrison’s firing. 

“They got their point across as fans, but we have to move forward,” Kidd said after the firing. “I understand the healing process for the fans, but these guys are playing hard. Ever since the trade, these guys have given everything.”

Flagg’s early days in the NBA as the youngest player in the league have been a mixed bag. Largely considered a generational prospect and the consensus No. 1 pick in June’s draft, he’s had some early growing pains. He is averaging 15.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, shooting 45.5 percent from the field and 29.3 percent from 3-point range. 

The Knicks high five during their loss to the Heat on Nov. 17, 2025. NBAE via Getty Images

He’s played better his past five games, averaging 21.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 50.0 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from deep.

It’s been a result of him transitioning away from playing as a point guard, where Kidd had used him in order to “make him uncomfortable” and speed up his development. He’s since looked much more comfortable as a wing. 

“It’s a lot of pressure and a lot of responsibility that comes with being a point guard,” Flagg said recently. “I don’t know if I was ready to handle that right off the bat. I tried my best and that’s not to say I can’t go back to it and I can’t work on it and get better. I think it’s just worked out lately where it’s been better to have somebody else help and relieve pressure. It doesn’t mean I can’t bring it up and initiate offense.”

And the Knicks are without their best wing defender in OG Anunoby. Flagg could present a matchup problem — Mikal Bridges might be too small to guard him and Karl-Anthony Towns might be too slow.

Along with the Pacers, the Knicks are one of just two teams winless on the road across the league. 

“They’re all different,” Towns said. “It’s tough, I know for everyone in this locker room, it’s tough. We got competitors, we wanna win. On top of that, we were always known for winning those types of games. So it’s a different feeling when you’re not doing that. Just stay confident. We got a great group of guys, great talent, keep fighting.” 

Kidd and Flagg stand in their way.