Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd sought coaching insights from one of the most revered figures in NBA history, Phil Jackson, during a covert summer meeting.
The Mavericks made significant progress last season by reaching the NBA Finals, a stark contrast to their inability to make the playoffs in the 2023-24 season. Kidd successfully fostered chemistry between star players Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, leading to impressive results on the court.
Despite this success, the team fell short of their ultimate goal of winning a second NBA championship. In the offseason, the organization made several roster improvements, including the signing of future Hall of Famer Klay Thompson, while also recognizing the need for enhanced coaching.
This summer, Kidd actively sought guidance from various coaches both within and outside the NBA. Notably, he caught attention by visiting Pittsburgh Steelers training camp to consult head coach Mike Tomlin. However, a more significant and private meeting took place between Kidd and the legendary basketball coach Phil Jackson.
Reflecting on his time with Jackson, Kidd shared, “It was incredible to be able to talk the triangle… To be able to have Phil walk us through the triangle on his basketball court. To be able to talk basketball. It was a master class. To watch video and he was running the video. It was surreal to be in the same room talking basketball with one of the greatest. I think he’s a genius in the game of basketball,” he told NBA insider Marc Stein.
Jackson, famed for his successful implementation of the triangle offense with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers, has raised questions among Mavericks fans about whether the team will adopt this strategy for the 2024-25 season.
Kidd expressed optimism about the possibility, stating, “I believe we have the personnel to run some version of the triangle. To get guys in different positions to be able to be successful. One of the things I learned about the triangle is the Lakers teams didn’t dribble a lot. A lot of passing. Hold the ball for two seconds then getting off of it would be something, hopefully, we can do.”
