Igor Kokoskov did not hold back when discussing his brief stint alongside Jason Kidd with the Dallas Mavericks, where he also worked closely with Luka Doncic.
Appearing on the “X&O’s CHAT” podcast, the Serbian coach offered two very different perspectives on Kidd: tremendous admiration for him as a player, but a very negative opinion of him as a coach and as a person.
“He was one of my favorite players and one of the greatest point guards to ever play the game. I loved the Princeton offense because of Jason Kidd. But Jason Kidd the player and Jason Kidd the coach and person are two completely different stories. I didn’t have a good experience with him, nor do I have a particularly high opinion of him off the court or as a head coach. And it’s fine for people to know that. That’s not just my opinion.”
Igor Kokoškov was not holding back when talking about Jason Kidd:
“I don’t have a good experience with him, nor do I have high opinion of him off the court or as a head coach.”
“After that first year in Dallas, once the season wrapped up. I got a call from Steve Nash, inviting me to join Brooklyn. I remember thinking ‘I was working for the worst guy in the NBA and now I have a call from best guy in the NBA'”
Via: @kurooscoffee
— Luka Updates (@LukaUpdates) September 14, 2026
His relationship with Luka Doncic became a source of tension
Kokoskov served on the Mavericks’ coaching staff during the 2021-22 season, when Dallas reached the Western Conference Finals behind Doncic.
After that single season, Kokoskov left Dallas and joined the Brooklyn Nets’ coaching staff. According to the Serbian coach, his close relationship with Doncic became a significant source of tension with Kidd.
“After working with Jason Kidd for a year, I sat down with him and said, ‘Look, I have a history with Luka Doncic and I know him well, we’ve worked together before, and that can certainly help the team, but I am not here working for Luka Doncic, I am working for you, this is your team.’”
According to Kokoskov, however, Kidd was never able to fully move past the issue.
“He could never really get over it. It was something in his head, part of his personal issues, which I didn’t want to get involved in.”
“I was working for the worst guy in the NBA, then I got a call from the best”
After the 2021-22 season ended, Kokoskov received a call from Steve Nash, who was then coaching the Brooklyn Nets.
The Serbian offered a particularly blunt comparison:
“After that first year in Dallas, once the season wrapped up, I got a call from Steve Nash, inviting me to join Brooklyn. I remember thinking, ‘I was working for the worst guy in the NBA and now I have a call from the best guy in the NBA.’”
Kokoskov has nothing but praise for Luka Doncic
While his assessment of Kidd was extremely harsh, Kokoskov had nothing but praise for Luka Doncic, with whom he has shared a strong basketball relationship for years.
Kokoskov was the head coach of the Slovenian national team when an 18-year-old Doncic burst onto the international scene and helped Slovenia win EuroBasket 2017.
Speaking about Doncic’s talent, Kokoskov was unequivocal:
“It only takes two sessions, two practices with a guy like that, to realize what kind of generational talent you’re working with. His talent was so obvious, and he keeps growing with every passing year. He is a gem, a diamond, a gift from God.”
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