Earlier this week, Mark Cuban didn’t hold back. He publicly called out Jason Kidd, igniting fresh tension in Dallas. The former owner alleged that the Mavericks head coach had a hand in Luka Doncic’s shocking move to the Lakers last February. Now, days later, Kidd has stepped forward to set the record straight and push back on the narrative.

The 53-year-old spoke to the media at the Kia Center as the Mavs face the Orlando Magic in a road game on Friday. Kidd spoke up about Cuban’s allegations. He said, “We have the best owner in the league, we have the best maintenance. And I know one of our owners has mentioned that I knew about the trade. So, unfortunately, as I have said, I was not part of the process. And I found I was informed at the 11th hour. And that’s the truth.”

Kidd stressed the fact that everyone has to move forward. “We’ve planted our flag, and we have an opportunity to build around him. And this is an exciting time. Our record is not what it should be. We’ve been in 43, I think, clutch games. We are playing hard,” the head coach added. “And we appreciate the fans coming, especially when we’re not in the playoffs. But understand that this group is playing hard. And that’s the character, reflection, not just for the coach, but the group in that locker room.”

He also mentioned that the Mavericks are excited about the end of the season. Sitting out of the postseason picture, they are surely looking for a fresh start in the next season. “But again, as I’ve said, the process, I was not part of it. And I found out at the 11th hour,” Kidd doubled down on his claim.

At the same time, Coach Kidd seemingly understands Mark Cuban’s sentiments. Especially because he played a crucial role in acquiring Luka Doncic in the 2018 NBA draft. Kidd said that he had a word with Cuban after his statement on the Intersection podcast. “In the comment, I called Mark right away. And so we had that conversation. It’s not a public conversation,” Kidd added.

“But understanding, Mark again has done a lot for the Dallas Mavericks, and for the city, and for myself. And so this isn’t about he said, or she said. It’s about, like, he has an opinion, and I’m here to tell you the truth,” Kidd said.

Back in 2000, Mark Cuban stepped in with a $285 million bet on the Dallas Mavericks. Everything changed at that moment as energy surged, and the franchise found a new identity. Over the next two decades, Dallas reached the playoffs 18 times and climbed to the ultimate peak in 2011, powered by Dirk Nowitzki. Soon after, Luka Doncic became the next cornerstone, keeping the spotlight firmly on the team.

Meanwhile, Cuban’s loud courtside presence and fearless clashes with the league turned him into a character fans couldn’t ignore. But things took a new turn in December 2023. Cuban sold his controlling stake for $3.5 billion, yet held onto 27% and influence. As a result, with Miriam Adelson and Patrick Dumont stepping in, the promise felt simple: same fire, new era. However, the promise turned into heartbreak precisely for Cuban as he watched his team give away their best player for an injury-prone AD.

Mark Cuban lashed out at J-Kidd for trading Luka Doncic

Cuban recently said, “I think there were issues that J-Kidd had coached with Anthony Davis and was close to him, and Nico was close to AD since he was like 13 years old.” He also claimed confirmation bias and blasted Jason Kidd and Nico Harrison for trading Luka Doncic to LA for Anthony Davis.

Everyone knows that Davis has been closely associated with Kidd and Harrison for years. And if you were to believe Cuban’s allegations, then that relationship wasn’t neutral in the trade decision.

Meanwhile, the reporters wanted to know if Jason Kidd called Luka after Cuban’s statement to clarify the matter. “No,” Kidd said. “Understand, Luka’s on the other side. He’s trying to kick our butt, we’re trying to kick his butt. And so understand that there’s not going to be a phone call to Luka.” Moreover, the matter is internal.

“It happens to be a teammate of ours and Cuban making this statement. And so internally, we’ll talk about it, we’ll solve it internally, and we’ll move forward,” he added. “Again, Cuban is one of the best owners in this league, and his role has changed. And so for us, and for me, I’m here to coach the players and put them in a position to be successful.”

At the same time, Kidd admitted he did feel somewhat blindsided, but he didn’t dwell on it. Instead, he accepted that Mark Cuban was simply sharing his own opinion. Kidd made it clear he wasn’t trying to avoid the situation or twist the narrative. He emphasized honesty, “But I’m here to tell you the truth. I’m not here to hide or run. I’m here to tell you exactly what happened. And that’s what happened.”

So now, this situation leaves no room for confusion. Jason Kidd has drawn a clear line and refuses to carry the blame. While Mark Cuban questions the past, the Mavs HC stays locked on the present and what comes next. Luka Doncic is history for them; what lies ahead is a new beginning.