A new report suggests that Jason Kidd, who currently holds the role of assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers, may soon have another chance in a head coaching job, this time with the New York Knicks.
Citing sources close to the situation, SportsNet New York’s Ian Begley wrote on Monday that the Knicks are planning to interview Kidd as they continue to look for a permanent manager in preparation for the 2020-21 season. This happens about a week after it was first reported that the 47-year-old received “strong internal consideration” as a job candidate and likely joined a list of promises that also included artists such as Tom Thibodeau (formerly with the Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves) and Kenny Atkinson (formerly with the Brooklyn nets).
Separately, Newsday’s Steve Popper tweeted Monday that Kidd seems interested in the job opportunity, after ending his 19-year playing career with the Knicks’ latest “hit” team – a unit that ended with a record 54-28 in 2012 -13 season. He added that there are also some unspecified teams who believe hiring Kidd as head coach can help them sign the alleged capture of the 2021 free agency class award – Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, who had played for him. for three and a half seasons, from 2014 to 2018.
According to SNY’s Begley, there is also the possibility that Kidd may become the best candidate to take over as a coach of the Houston Rockets, assuming that Mike D’Antoni chooses not to return to the team for the 2020-21 campaign.
Kidd is the tenth individual online for an interview with the Knicks, whose record 21-45 eliminated them from the next round of the 2019-2020 NBA season in Orlando, Florida. This list of candidates also includes interim head coach Mike Miller, who reportedly impressed new team president Leon Rose during the short period of time he managed to lead the team.
According to Begley sources, it may take several weeks for New York to decide on a new coach, as the organization plans to conduct “short introductory interviews” with some of the promising people this week. These will then be followed by longer and more “formal” chats with the best leaders of the team, with the process likely to end by the end of July, when the NBA will resume playing.