Head coach Jason Kidd went to another level in a try to improve the Dallas Mavericks this season by sitting down with none other than Phil Jackson, one of the best coaches in NBA history. The Mavs want to improve all around, and Kidd’s personal development as a coach fits perfectly with a revised team including Klay Thompson and the acquisition of championship-winning adviser Frank Vogel.
“It Was Surreal”—Kidd’s Jackson Experience
Describing his time studying from Jackson as a “masterclass,” Kidd opened out on the Dallas Mavericks Podcast. “To be able to chat basketball, it was a masterclass,” Kidd added. “To be able to settle down and view footage. Running the video, it felt almost dreamlike to be in the same room talking basketball with one of the best. He is, in my opinion, a basketball genius. It was astounding.
Triangle Offense Notes and Mavs’ Potential Corrective Actions
Jackson’s legendary triangle offense—a strategy that enabled Jackson grab 11 NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers—was one of their most important subjects together. Hinting at the prospect of including triangle components into the Mavericks’ playbook this season, Kidd said he was open to learning from Jackson’s legendary career and using those ideas in his own coaching approach.
With fresh talent and a modern attitude, the Mavericks are getting ready for the season and Kidd’s “masterclass” with Phil Jackson might be very important in determining the team’s approach and maybe propel them to the next level. For Mavs supporters, it’s encouraging evidence of a coach who actively seeks to develop and learn from the top of the game rather than merely accepts the status quo.
