Igor Kokoskov ruthlessly reveals why he left the Dallas Mavericks for the Brooklyn Nets in 2022.
Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic is still waiting for his first-ever NBA Championship of his career. However, the European star has already won some serious silverware with Slovenia.
Nothing comes close to the team’s phenomenal gold medal run during the 2017 FIBA EuroBasket under head coach Igor Kokoskov.
Speaking of whom, the former Slovenian coach recently revealed the real reason behind parting ways with Doncic at the Dallas Mavericks in 2022.
Photo by Tolga Adanali/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images
In a scathing interview with ‘X&O’s Chat,’ Kokoskov explained how Kidd’s lackluster head coaching abilities led to his departure to serve as an assistant coach under Steve Nash on the Brooklyn Nets.
“I don’t have a particularly high opinion of him,” Kokoskov said. “Perhaps the best illustration is that, 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.’
“However, 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,” he continued.
“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,'” Kokoskov concluded.
Kokoskov did mention he was a fan of Kidd’s game as a player, but the qualities that made him appealing never really carried over to his coaching career.
It’s evident from Kidd wasting several of Doncic’s years in Dallas and ultimately somewhat losing the trust of the generational superstar when he was traded to the Lakers in 2025.
With Kidd fired by the Mavericks this offseason, Kokoskov’s fiery revelation could make it harder for him to land another head coaching opportunity in the NBA.
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