Jason Kidd’s blunt take on relationship with Giannis Antetokounmpo

New Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd spoke to the media this week about a variety of topics. One in particular that stood out was his relationship with Giannis Antetokounmpo.

A recently released book, “Giannis: The Improbable Rise of an NBA MVP,” speaks quite negatively of the dynamic between the pair.

As such, Kidd felt the need to clear the air.

For obvious reasons, he took something of a terse tone when discussing the matter.

“I’m waiting for Giannis for when he writes it,” Kidd said, via the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “I’m aware of [the book], but if it’s not from Giannis I won’t pay attention to it.”

Despite getting fired by the Bucks several years ago, Kidd insists he has a very good relationship with Antetokounmpo.

“There are no feelings about it because it was not Giannis’ book. The cool thing is my relationship with Giannis goes beyond basketball,” he continued. “I talked to him a couple of hours after his son was born. Cool little name, ‘Maverick.’ See, you guys didn’t know that. That’s how close we are.”

Kidd is something of a polarizing figure. He was recently exposed by his son in relatively brutal fashion, which also painted him in a not quite great light. That is probably why he is feeling so sensitive about how folks view his relationship with Antetokounmpo.

To hear Kidd tell it, however – he and Antetokounmpo are good. And at the moment, there’s no reason not to simply take him at his word.