Dallas Maverickshead coach Jason Kidd was not feeling a reporter's question about rookie Cooper Flagg following the Mavericks' 111-107 loss to the Rockets on Jan. 31 at Houston's Toyota Center.
Kidd was asked about reports of "criticism" he'd received for playing Flagg, the top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, at point guard. Dallas' fifth-year coach interrupted the question, responding with a profanity-filled rant slamming those reports while flexing his career resume.
"I don't give a (expletive) about the criticism. Criticism? That's your opinion. You guys write that bull(crap),"Kidd said. "That's not ... I've done this. I've played this game. I've played it at a very high level. I know what the (expletive) I'm doing.
See Cooper Flagg in action with Mavericks as top NBA rookie ... so far
"But I don't give a (expletive) what you guys write. Because you guys have never played the game. And so, I build players. So, I know what the (expletive) I'm doing. So, to take criticism, it only makes me better. Because if I wasn't doing it right you guys wouldn't be poking holes in what I've done."
Flagg had 34 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and a block in the loss. In his prior outinghe set an NBA record for a teenager, scoring 49 points in a loss against theCharlotte Hornets.
The Mavericks have lost four consecutive games. Their next matchup is Tuesday, Feb. 3 against the Boston Celtics at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Jason Kidd rant after Cooper Flagg question: What set him off?
