It is confirmed that Los Angeles Lakers assistant Jason Kidd has withdrawn from Portland Trail Blazers’ coaching search. This is after he received a public endorsement from Blazers’ point guard Damian Lillard.
Kidd is an American professional basketball coach who was popularly known as a ten-time NBA All-star, nine-time NBA All-Defensive Team member, and a five-time All-NBA First Team member. He was also the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks.
‘Portland’s a first-class organization and will have great candidates for its head coaching job, but I’ve decided not to be one of them. Whoever they choose will have big shoes to fill from Terry (Stotts)’, Kidd said.
Some reports were saying that Kidd was uncomfortable with the idea of accepting an offer after the Blazers star publicly called for his hiring. It also happened within hours of Terry Stott’s departure. This might also affect the odds as you bet on basketball with Bitcoin.
On the other hand, there are other possible reasons why he decided to take his name out of Blazers’ sight. It might be because he heard that the team was not interested in him. To avoid embarrassment, he did the ‘you can’t fire me, I quit’ manoeuvre.
There was also a possibility that the Blazers’ did not consider him as one of their top candidates because of Kidd’s history of power grabs and failed coup attempts with the Nets. It was one of the issues that Lakers head coach Frank Vogel and Kidd have joked about in the past. Moreover, Vogel emphasized that he had a great time working with Kidd.
‘Jason has become one of my closest friends, really a trusted advisor on my coaching staff and someone that has just been integral to our success over the last two years. He should be at the top of everybody’s list that has an opening in the NBA’, Vogel said.
Trail Blazers head coach candidates
Blazers’ hunt for a new coach after parting ways with Stotts and Kidd drawing out is still up. There are a couple of names that are considered to be the next head coach of the squad. Some of these are Johnnie Bryant, Chauncey Billups, Dave Joerger, and Mike Brown.
Bryant is the associate head coach of the New York Knicks who has also worked with the Utah Jazz from 2014 to 2020. He was initially hired as a development assistant and was promoted to assistant coach under head coach Quin Snyder.
Billups is the assistant coach of the Los Angeles Clippers under head coach Tyronn Lue. Aside from coaching, he also played 17 seasons in the NBA with Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons, New York Clippers, and Los Angeles Clippers.
He was recognized as an excellent leader who has coaching experience that can help Lillard to fill the lacking parts of his game.
Joerger is the assistant coach of the Philadelphia 76ers. He also served as the head coach of Dakota Wizards, Sioux Falls Skyforce, Memphis Grizzlies, and Sacramento Kings. With Blazers’ landing on rank 29 out of 30 in defensive rating the previous season, there is no doubt that Joerger can do something about it since that’s where he specializes in.
In fact, when Joerger led the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2014-15 season, they were recognized for having a no. 2 defensive ratings in the NBA.
Brown has been the associate head coach of the Golden State Warriors since 2016. He also served as the former head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers. Although he hasn’t had a full-time head job since he was ousted from the Lakers’ post, he has been a part of the Warriors’ two championship squads.
Even with these mentioned candidates, the coaching search will still carry on. Tune in on the latest updates and bet on basketball with Bitcoin if you feel like doing so.
