Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd has been fined $35,000 for publicly criticizing officiating and using profane language during a postgame interview, the NBA announced Monday.
James Jones, the league’s Executive Vice President and Head of Basketball Operations, confirmed the fine following Kidd’s comments after Dallas’ 111-107 loss to the Houston Rockets on January 31 at Toyota Center.
Kidd directed his criticism at the referee crew, calling their performance “unacceptable” after multiple missed calls, including a key late-game foul against Cooper Flagg. “Now, does he make both? That’s up to the player, but the referees did not do their job tonight. They were terrible,” Kidd said after the game.
The coach also addressed the backlash over his decision to play Flagg at point guard. “I don’t give a f— what you guys write. Because you guys have never played the game before. I have built players. I know what the f— I’m doing,” Kidd said, emphasizing his experience and confidence in his approach.
Dallas sits 11th in the Western Conference at 19-30, reflecting a team in transition that has been dealing with injuries and roster adjustments. Kidd highlighted the “next man up” mentality, praising his young players for maintaining effort despite the challenges.
