The Mavericks are acting as if winning the title is their only option.
A pair of new recruits with championship experience and ties to Kyrie Irving’s previous success have significantly bolstered Jason Kidd’s coaching staff.
How Will Phil Handy’s Return Impact Kyrie Irving?
NBA Insider Marc Stein reported that Dallas has added Phil Handy and Popeye Jones to their coaching staff, joining what was already a strengthened group following this summer’s additions.
“UPDATE: Both Phil Handy and Popeye Jones have agreed to join Jason Kidd’s coaching staff in Dallas, league sources tell (Stein) and (DLLS Sports),” Stein wrote.
“Handy and Jones will join Jay Triano as newcomers … with Mavs coaching consultant Frank Vogel now Kidd’s associate head coach.”
The Handy hire brings a familiar face back into Irving’s orbit. Handy served as an assistant coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers during Irving’s time there from 2013 to 2017, though Handy departed the year after (2018), when Cleveland traded Irving to Boston. During their time together, the duo helped the Cavaliers capture the franchise’s first-ever title in 2016.
Since leaving Cleveland, Handy has continued building his championship resume. He joined the Toronto Raptors and Los Angeles Lakers’ coaching staffs, where he added two more titles to his collection in 2019 and 2020 with those franchises, respectively.
What Championship Experience Do These Coaches Bring?
Jones has recent championship experience being a member of the coaching team that won the 2023 title with the Denver Nuggets.
Irving is just one of Handy’s many coaching contacts. While both were on the Lakers’ staff, he worked under Vogel and the latter during his time with the team.
This preexisting connection enriches Dallas’s reorganized coaching staff with more familiarity.
This bolstering of the roster shows how confident Dallas is in their ability to compete next season, especially with the signing of Cooper Flagg.
Irving, nevertheless, is still dealing with the aftermath of his ACL tear and has promised not to push his return for the 2025–26 season, so there are still unanswered questions regarding him.
Regardless of what happens with Irving, the Mavericks have assembled a loaded coaching staff to complement what promises to be an intriguing roster next season.
While it’s not surprising that they don’t plan to take their time building a potential title contender, it is noteworthy that they are pulling out all the stops to ensure it won’t be long before they return to the NBA Finals.
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