Dallas coach Jason Kidd enters NBA protocols, out vs Rockets

Posted January 07, 2022 6:00 am

By The Associated Press

Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd calls out to players during the first half of the team's NBA basketball game against Portland Trail Blazers in Portland, Ore., Monday, Dec. 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman) The Associated Press

The Dallas Mavericks will be without coach Jason Kidd on Friday night against the Houston Rockets.

The Mavericks announced Kidd has entered the health and safety protocols as the NBA's 13th head coach sidelined this season. Assistant coach Sean Sweeney will be Dallas' acting head coach.

Dallas currently is fifth in the Western Conference and has won four straight. The Mavericks are scheduled to host Chicago on Sunday night before hitting the road for a two-game swing.

The last few weeks in the NBA have seen most teams dealing with outbreaks; 11 games have been postponed, while now 13 head coaches, countless other staffers and about one-third of the league's referees have been sidelined by virus issues.

Recent days have lessened the strain that teams are under. There were about 125 players in the protocols midway through last week, and that number was down to 56 by Thursday evening.

About 300 players have been in the protocols already this season in the NBA, and because so many hardship signings were needed by teams to fill depleted rosters there were more players who saw game time in December alone - 544 - than in any other previous full season in league history. The previous single-season record was 540, set last season.

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Dallas Mavericks forward Dorian Finney-Smith (10) talks with coach Jason Kidd during the first quarter of the team's NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021. (AP Photo/JosÃ© Luis Villegas) The Associated Press

Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd and Sacramento Kings interim coach Alvin Gentry meet following an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Friday, Dec. 31, 2021. The Mavericks won 112-96. (AP Photo/JosÃ© Luis Villegas) The Associated Press

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