NBA Rumors: Los Angeles Lakers Assistant Allowed For New York Knicks Head Coaching Interview

The Los Angeles Lakers have reportedly permitted Jason Kidd to be interviewed for the New York Knicks head coaching job. The 47-year-old assistant coach would join the logjam of candidates for the vacant spot as the Knicks go on a “sweeping and extensive search” in preparation for the 2021 NBA Season.

Marc Stein of the New York Times wrote on Monday: “The Knicks have requested and received permission to interview the Lakers' Jason Kidd for their head coaching vacancy.”

Kidd will be joining current Knicks interim head coach Mike Miller, Dallas Mavericks assistant Jamahl Mosley, San Antonio Spurs assistant Will Hardy, Golden State Warriors assistant Mike Brown, Chicago Bulls assistant Chris Fleming, Philadelphia 76ers assistant Ime Udoka, Orlando Magic assistant Pat Delany and former NBA head coaches Mike Woodson, Tom Thibodeau and Kenny Atkinson in the list of candidates, as provided by Ian Begley of SNY.

Kidd actually played his final year in 2013 in New York before taking on the head coaching task in Brooklyn the same year. He then moved to Milwaukee and coached a young Bucks team until 2018. After a one-year break, the 2011 NBA champion headed over to L.A. and joined Frank Vogel’s staff.

Steve Popper of Newsday backed up the report and added that Kidd has also gained the interest of several other teams due to his connection to reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, whom the Hall of Famer coached in Milwaukee. Antetokounmpo will hit free agency in the summer of 2021.

“Sources close to Kidd have said that he would have interest in this job (he played for Dolan and Knicks in last successful season for NY) - and some teams interested in Kidd think that he could provide a link to the prize of next year's free-agent class, Giannis,” Popper wrote.

Brad Turner of Los Angeles Times got a scoop and bared that Kidd and the Knicks already had a talk on Friday and are planning to formally meet in person before the Lakers fly over to the Orlando bubble for the resumption of the 2020 NBA Season.

Kidd was named the league’s Rookie of the Year in 1995 along with Grant Hill. He was also a 10-time All-Star, a six-time All-NBA first-team selection, and a member of the All-Defensive first-team four times. As a coach, Kidd led the Bucks to two playoff appearances and registered a 139-152 record. He was also responsible for steering the Nets to the Eastern Conference Semifinals in 2014 after finishing the regular season as an eighth-seeded team with a 44-38 record.