Jared Dudley: Kidd 'laid the foundation' for Bucks' title

Jason Kidd's time as head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks came to an abrupt end in January 2018, but his influence on the organization has come under renewed scrutiny thanks to the release of Giannis Antetokounmpo's biography.

Among the behind-the-scenes moments featured in Mirin Fader's "Giannis: The Improbable Rise of an NBA MVP" are several instances where Kidd was said to be heavy-handed in his treatment of Bucks and Brooklyn Nets players.

On one occasion, Kidd apparently punished big man Thon Maker for having an Android phone instead of an iPhone - an apparent affront to team unity. Another former player likened the Hall of Fame point guard's treatment of his players to "psychological warfare."

In response to excerpts from Fader's book posted on social media, veteran forward Jared Dudley - who played for Kidd's Bucks in 2014-15 and more recently with the Los Angeles Lakers from 2019-21, where Kidd served as an assistant - came to his former coach's defense.

"Jason Kidd was a great coach in Milwaukee," Dudley tweeted. "The man single-handedly (changed) the culture. One of the biggest (turnarounds) from one year to the next in NBA history. I personally saw what he did for (Khris) Middleton and Giannis. He laid the foundation for them winning the chip this year."

Kidd finished his run in Milwaukee with a 139-152 (.478) record across parts of four seasons. After his two-year run on the Lakers' bench, the 48-year-old was hired as head coach of the Dallas Mavericks in late June.