Kidd Says He Learned of Doncic Trade at '11th Hour', Responds to Cuban's Mavs Sale Regret

Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd addresses the controversial 2025 trade of star player Luka Doncic and former owner Mark Cuban's criticism of the deal.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 1:48am

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Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd revealed that he was informed of the team's blockbuster 2025 trade involving star player Luka Doncic just moments before it became public, describing the timing as the '11th hour'. Kidd pushed back on recent comments from former Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, who expressed regret over selling the franchise and questioned the controversial Doncic trade that sent him to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Why it matters

The Doncic trade was one of the most debated moves in recent NBA history, with lingering questions about communication within the Mavericks organization and the long-term direction of the franchise under new ownership. Kidd's comments provide insight into the internal dynamics around the high-profile deal.

The details

Kidd said he was called into a meeting with then-general manager Nico Harrison shortly before the Doncic trade was set to be announced publicly. 'The time that I was called to see Nico... and to be told that there would be a trade that was going to go public at 11:00, that's what happened,' Kidd said. 'I waited till 11:00, and in that trade, the world changed.' Kidd added that his focus quickly shifted to managing the roster transition.

  • Kidd was informed of the Doncic trade just moments before it became public.

The players

Jason Kidd

The head coach of the Dallas Mavericks who was informed of the Luka Doncic trade at the last minute.

Luka Doncic

The star player of the Dallas Mavericks who was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2025.

Mark Cuban

The former owner of the Dallas Mavericks who expressed regret over selling the franchise and criticized the Doncic trade.

Nico Harrison

The former general manager of the Dallas Mavericks who informed Kidd of the Doncic trade.

Patrick Dumont

The current team governor of the Dallas Mavericks who approved the Doncic trade.

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What they’re saying

“Blindsided, maybe, that's a good way to put it. When I found out about it, I just looked at it as this is Cuban, and he has a right to his opinion. But I'm here to tell you the truth... they found out at the 11th hour.”

— Jason Kidd, Head Coach, Dallas Mavericks

“As a head coach, I had to, you know, understand there's players leaving and there's players coming in, and that's how I thought as a head coach.”

— Jason Kidd, Head Coach, Dallas Mavericks

What’s next

The Mavericks organization and new ownership will continue to face scrutiny and questions about the Doncic trade and the franchise's direction moving forward.

The takeaway

The Doncic trade saga has exposed internal communication issues and a lack of alignment within the Mavericks organization, raising concerns about the team's long-term stability and competitiveness under new ownership.