Getty Former NBA point guard Jason Kidd during Hall of Fame speech.
A staple in the Los Angeles Lakers coaching search and someone who the front office insisted have a spot on the coaching staff, Jason Kidd’s name is one that has popped up often during this offseason. While announced that he would be joining the team as an assistant coach a few weeks back, the details surrounding Kidd’s offer were unclear.
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Lakers Make Jason Kidd Highest Paid Assistant Coach in NBA
The Athletic’s Shams Charania brought to light just how much the Lakers decided to pay Kidd once they inevitably brought him onboard.
“Jason Kidd’s contract with the Lakers made him the highest paid assistant coach in the NBA, sources with knowledge of the deal said,” Charania reported.
Despite his lackluster track record as a head coach, the Lakers’ front office clearly sees some promise in Kidd and may be trying to build him up to take over the reins at some point down the road. ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith even went as far to say on air that he feels Kidd will take over as head coach of the Lakers at some point in the next two seasons.
Jason Kidd’s Professional Coaching Career
After his illustrious playing days, Kidd picked up coaching and took over the Brooklyn Nets before the 2013-2014 season. Kidd posted a winning record his first season in Brooklyn but was subsequently traded to the Milwaukee Bucks before the 2014-2015 campaign. In Milwaukee, Kidd would have some middling years despite having a generational talent in Giannis Antetokuonmpo at his disposal.
Kidd’s last season in Milwaukee was in 2017-18 when he was fired after 45 games into the season with the team just a game above .500. For his career, Kidd has a winning percentage of .491 and never had a season in which one of his teams finished with more than 44 wins. While Kidd was tasked with helping to grow the young Milwaukee core, the Bucks took their biggest step forward once Kidd’s days were done.