In the shadow of his Hall of Fame father, TJ Kidd is using his voice — and the game — for something greater than legacy.
Ahead of the June 21 return of the TJK Classic, the third installment of his charity basketball event, Kidd spoke with NBA insider Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson about his mission, his perspective on the league, and the Dallas Mavericks’ headline-making season.
While TJ Kidd avoids NBA discourse on a regular basis, he acknowledged the chaos surrounding the Mavericks this past season — particularly the controversial Luka Doncic trade.
“I heard Luka was in town,” he said, referencing Doncic’s return to Dallas as a Laker. “I might’ve tuned in for that game.”
Kidd added, “I really think Luka wanted to be a Maverick for life. Loyalty doesn’t seem to be rewarded in today’s NBA, and that’s unfortunate.”
The Mavericks’ season spiraled following that deal. Injuries to Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving, among others, left Dallas short-handed.
Despite clinching the final Play-In spot, the Mavs missed the playoffs after falling to Memphis, ending a turbulent year marred by fan outrage, staffing criticism, and viral backlash.
Still, the team stunned the league by winning the NBA Draft Lottery with just a 1.8% chance.
“They’ve had a rough ride,” Kidd admitted. “But the West is so stacked. That Play-In changed everything. Anybody can win it.”
