Los Angeles Lakers assistant Jason Kidd is now on the front row in the vacant coaching position of the New York Knicks.
According to Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News, Kidd’s top-ranked status is due in part to the Knicks’ inability to come to terms on a contract with Tom Thibodeau so far. The Knicks owner James Dolan was reportedly “reluctant” to accept Thibodeau’s contract requests.
However, the New York Post’s Marc Berman cited a source who said Thibodeau has a ’65 percent chance ‘of being hired.
Prior to his current assistant position with the Lakers, Kidd worked as head coach of the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks.
47-year-old Kidd, who is a Basketball Hall of Famer as a player, started his coaching career with goals in 2013. Kidd led the goals to a record 44-38 and took them to the playoffs second round that season. , but the Bucks acquired his coaching rights after the season.
Kidd was the Milwaukee coach for parts of four seasons and led the Bucks to the playoffs twice, but was fired after a 23-22 start in 2017-18. Overall, Kidd is 183-190 as head coach of the NBA.
SNY’s Ian Begley reported Thursday that the Knicks interviewed 11 different coaching candidates via Zoom calls, with each of them interviewed twice.
In addition to Kidd and Thibodeau, the Knicks reportedly interviewed interim head coach Mike Miller, former Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson, former Knicks head coach Mike Woodson, Golden State Warriors assistant Mike Brown , Chicago bull assistant Chris Fleming, Mavericks Jamahl Mosley assistant, Will Hardy, San Antonio Spurs assistant, Philadelphia 76ers principal assistant Ime Udoka and Orlando Magic assistant Pat Delany.