The Dagger: Will Jason Kidd ever outrun his past?

William Faulkner, a famous early 20th century American writer, had a dark yet enlightening perspective of the past.

“The past isn’t dead. It isn’t even past.”

Former NBA player and 10-time All-Star Jason Kidd’s unfavorable past is alive and  well and making headlines again. Excerpts from author’s Mirin Fader’s new book “Giannis: The Improbable Rise of an NBA MVP”, highlight Kidd’s brutal coaching style  during his time as head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks from 2014-2018. 

The timing couldn’t be worse because the Dallas Mavericks just anointed Kidd as its new head coach.

This revelation leaves the NBA world with some looming questions: Will he be the same way in Dallas? What does Mavs superstar Luka Doncic and his supporting cast think about all this? Mark Cuban?

Surely, the Mavericks thought the inquisition alone from hiring Kidd – who already has a troubling history – was over.

Welp, no. Sorry Mavs.

Your organization will be under the microscope for at least Kidd’s first year to monitor how’s it all going and to see if his abusive tendencies resurface.

It’ll likely be the undertone of every press conference or interview Kidd and the Mavs do.

Kidd has mostly kept a low profile during his time with the Los Angeles Lakers coaching staff from 2019-2021.

Did the Lakers see any red flags during Kidd’s two-year stint? If they did, are they going to speak out to affirm the recent revelations?

More questions.

This bad press is undoubtedly ugly for Kidd right now and is a setback to progress he’s made the last two years. Will he ever escape his past?

Maybe not. But Kidd is the in the perfect position as a new head coach to change and not further cultivate disparaging narratives about him.

Keeping a smile on Doncic’s face and winning in the playoffs won’t kill Kidd’s past but may — at the very least — make it a distant memory.

Here’s hoping.