NBA Insider Praises Mark Cuban On Jason Kidd And Nico Harrison Hires

The Dallas Mavericks recently announced that they would be hiring Hall of Fame guard Jason Kidd to be their next head coach. In addition, it was also announced that longtime Nike executive Nico Harrison would be hired as President of Basketball Operations.
After news broke that Dallas would be hiring Jason Kidd, Mavericks owner Market Cuban was interviewed by TMZ Sports.
“I’m excited about it, obviously,” Cuban said. “J. Kidd is going to be great for us. He’s going to be great for Luka, for the organization. So I’m really excited.”
“We’ve got the talent. I think we’ll get better talent. We’ll keep on getting better. Luka will keep on getting better. And, I think Jason will help Luka and the team get better.”
Following the news, I decided to reach out to someone that I have been following for years. ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith has shouted him out over the years on national television and thinks he is a basketball savant. The person that I am talking about is Champ. With that being said, I wanted to get his opinion on the hiring of both Kidd and Harrison.
“Well, first of all, you have to give credit to the owner, Mark Cuban, for understanding that it is time for a change, and it is time for new voices with his organization. The acquisitions of Nico [Harrison] are coming from Nike, and he has relationships with all the top players in that brand. Then you bring in a guy like Jason Kidd, one of the all-time greats. One of the top two or three pure point guards over the last 40 years in the NBA has proven to be a solid coach and develop the players from the skilled position,” said Champ.
“First, In Brooklyn for one season, three and half seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks. And you saw Giannis Antetokounmpo’s development under him, and he could not finish the process. When thinking about Jason Kidd and what he brings to the table, I am basing this off what the Greek Freak stated when Kidd departed Milwaukee. He was kind of unhappy, and he felt like Jason Kidd was his guy from what I was being told. That potentially he would entertain free agency had Jason Kidd landed somewhere else.”
He would continue:
“So, when you look at this generational talent in Luka Doncic potentially and what could be in the coming years in free agency. I’m wondering if that is one of the main reasons for bringing in a Jason Kidd versus someone else. That potentially we could see a Kevin Durant opted out of the Brooklyn Nets if they win the NBA championship next year and entertain Dallas, Texas, knowing that he did play for Texas in college back in 2007.”
After speaking with Champ, Stephen A. Smith was right, and his basketball knowledge is off the charts.
As for the Dallas Mavericks they are looking to improve on their first round exit this season against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Landon Buford is an accomplished sports and entertainment journalist based in Richardson, Texas, with over a decade of experience covering the NBA, WNBA, NFL, WWE, MLB, and the entertainment industry. Known for delivering high-impact stories and headline-making interviews, Buford has earned a global audience through content that blends insider access with compelling storytelling.
He previously served as director of editorial and brand communications at PlayersTV, where he helped shape the platform’s editorial voice and brand identity. He is also the founder and editor-in-chief of LandonBuford.com—an independent outlet with more than 1.6 million views and syndication from major platforms including Bleacher Report, Sports Illustrated and Yahoo Sports. Buford’s interviews with stars like Gary Payton, Kevin Durant, Mark Cuban and Chris Paul showcase his talent for meaningful, in-depth conversations.
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