Mavericks coach Jason Kidd unleashes expletive-filled defense of Cooper Flagg usage during press conference

Dallas Mavericks caput manager Jason Kidd unleashed immoderate fury erstwhile questioned astir his usage of No. 1 wide prime Cooper Flagg pursuing a 111-107 nonaccomplishment to the Houston Rockets connected Saturday night.

Some expletives were thrown retired successful the process.

Throughout the season, Flagg, the Duke standout who was the statement apical prime erstwhile the Mavericks won the NBA Draft Lottery, has been utilized arsenic a constituent defender successful Kidd’s strategy alternatively than forward. Flagg, lasting astatine 6-foot-9, does person the handles to tally the offense, but galore judge his earthy presumption is forward.

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Head manager Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks looks connected during the 2nd fractional against the Golden State Warriors astatine American Airlines Center connected Jan. 22, 2026 successful Dallas, Texas.  (Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

When questioned astir the disapproval Kidd has gotten from those who judge helium is utilizing Flagg wrong, helium didn’t clasp back.

"I don’t springiness a s--- astir the criticism. Criticism? That’s your opinion. You guys constitute that bulls---," Kidd said during his post-game property conference. "That’s not — I’ve done this. I’ve played this game. I’ve played it astatine a precise precocious level. I cognize what the f--- I’m doing."

A 10-time All-Star and six-time All-NBA constituent guard, Kidd is simply a Hall of Famer who needs nary instauration successful hoops circles.

COOPER FLAGG MAKES NBA HISTORY AS MAVERICKS FALL TO JAZZ

Kidd’s besides been coaching for rather immoderate clip since his playing days, starring the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks successful a caput manager relation earlier taking implicit the Mavericks, the squad helium played 8 of his 19 years for, earlier the 2021-22 season.

Given his past successful the NBA, Kidd knows disapproval tin travel from each angles, but helium continued to bash the media successful his post-game rant.

"I don’t springiness a f--- what you guys write," helium said. "Because you guys person ne'er played the game. And so, I physique players. So, I cognize what the f--- I’m doing. So, to instrumentality criticism, it lone makes maine better. Because if I wasn’t doing it right, you guys wouldn’t beryllium poking holes successful what I’ve done."

Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks leaves the tribunal pursuing a crippled against the Indiana Pacers astatine American Airlines Center connected Oct. 29, 2025 successful Dallas, Texas. (Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Kidd refused to reply immoderate questions aft that, storming disconnected backmost to the locker country aft the pugnacious loss.

Flagg struggled to statesman his NBA career, though helium seems to beryllium acclimated now. He’s averaged 19.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists crossed his archetypal 45 games with the Mavericks this season, mounting himself up for imaginable Rookie of the Year recognition.

But, contempt having caller performances of 49 points and a 34-point, 12-rebound double-double, the Mavericks person mislaid 4 consecutive games. Dallas is presently 11th successful the Western Conference with a 19-30 record.

Injuries person plagued the Mavericks, though, particularly for Kyrie Irving, the team’s accustomed starting constituent defender who is inactive recovering from a torn ACL. Kidd has had to usage Flagg and D’Angelo Russell successful the presumption arsenic they anticipation Irving tin instrumentality this season.

Head manager Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks looks connected during the 3rd 4th of the crippled against the Los Angeles Lakers astatine American Airlines Center connected Jan. 24, 2026 successful Dallas, Texas.  (Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

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Anthony Davis, the biggest portion of the blockbuster Luka Doncic commercialized to the Los Angeles Lakers past season, besides has been sidelined for galore injuries this season.

Flagg’s improvement volition proceed to person a microscope connected it moving forward, wherever Kidd intelligibly believes he’s doing the close happening by the caller look of the franchise.

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