Jason Kidd was strikingly even-keeled in the wake of his firing by the Bucks yesterday. He said he was surprised by the timing and he manner in which it was handled, receiving the news from All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo while on his way to the BMO Harris Bradley Center for a scheduled match against the Suns. He was then officially informed of the development 15 minutes later, when the news had already become public, leading him to say it “was handled wrong.” Still, he said he was grateful to have served as the franchise’s head coach for the better part of four seasons. “I enjoyed my time in Milwaukee. There’s no regrets.”
Based on Kidd’s recounting of the events that led to his ouster, Antetokounmpo asked him what could be done to save his job. “There’s nothing you can do,” he recalled replying. “All you can do is tell the truth. That’s it.” And part of that involves understanding how he went from being ultra-close to ownership to being shunned by management. On the basis of numbers alone, his losing record reflected a roller-coaster ride; he led the Bucks to the playoffs off a dramatic turnaround in his first year, could not duplicate the feat in his second, went on a one-and-done course anew in his third, and was hanging on to the eighth seed in the East before he got the pink slip.
Clearly, Kidd failed to meet the expectations of those who paid his salary. With Antetokounmpo at the forefront and backstopped by new acquisition Eric Bledsoe, the Bucks were projected to crowd the top of the conference. Instead, they have been treading water, with their trap-always defensive system seen to be incongruous with the requirements of the small-ball era; they expend undirected energy, only to fail to keep up with crisp ball movement and allow open three after open three.
In assessing his plight, Kidd spoke of the National Basketball Association as a business. “That’s what people have to understand. People get fired. They get traded. It’s a job.” He should know, having been hired by the Bucks under equally brow-furrowing circumstances. And while he will be assessing his career options on the same year he is set to enter the Hoops Hall of Fame, he is sure to be all right in the end. After all, he is, if nothing else, confident and accomplished.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is the Senior Vice-President and General Manager of Basic Energy Corp.
