Jason Kidd with Dallas as a champion in the NBA and in the Olympics....
The one we call Kidd has officially retired. Yes, another great pass first, all around point guard chose to retire after a beautiful 16+year career and playing a solid final season with the Knicks at the age of 40. Who would of thought (not really) over the hill and playing in the NBA (especially as a guard) is nearly impossible and rarely ever accomplished, ever. The triple double machine has been gone since he was 37 or so, but his ability to help teams win has shown obvious winning with Dallas and taking the Knicks farther than they have gone in years.
Jason Kidd came out of California and the Pac 10 to only be co Rookie Of The Year with some scrub named Grant Hill, while both were superstars, it’s quite a coincidence they both have just retired. I smell assistant coaching for both, though Grant Hill is more of the TV broadcasting type, Kidd more the coach. Kidd was a one of a kind Point Guard when he came in the NBA as those Magic Johnson triple doubles were years gone. But Kidd, a taller, 6’5” PG with a extremely high basketball IQ and great court vision passed the ball like a mini-Magic.
Drafted to Phoenix he was already a 15 point, 10+assist, 5 rebound, 2 steals per game kind of stud. He’d turned into the best PG in the NBA at the time. Then he was traded to New Jersey, a great place to be in 2001-2002. In Jersey he had Vince Carter playing next to him in his prime as well as Richard Jefferson the solid athletic forward and Kenyon Martin at his best (post surgery still), but Kidd took this team to the NBA Finals and ECF’s a few times with limited resources in a 5-6 year span. Never to win it. His last season in New Jersey, a PG at age 33/34 (considered quite old in NBA years) was playing better ball than ever…. many wondered how he could do it much longer, many thought he just needed to be in the right place surrounded by more talent.
Final year in Jersey: -14 points, 10.5 assists, 1.8 steals, with a much improving 3pt shot
Finally, Mark Cuban of the Mavericks decided to make a bold move trading a young, promising Point-Guard in Devin Harris (who did go to Jersey and become a 22ppg guy for a season only to fall off) along with a ton of other players to trade for Kidd and his massive salary. The Dallas Mavericks have often been known as the city and team where stars go to die (and age)… but Cuban had a nice plan and built a great team. Kidd’s 3pt shot somehow became far improved, a top 20 3pt shooter in the NBA by percentage, knowing when and what to do. Kidd kept up his passing and team play, only scored 9 or 10 a game, but with Dirk Nowitzki, Tyson Chandler, and great shooters to surround them all they were able to go all the way, beating the first year of Miami’s “Big 3 Lebron saga” in the finals with ease.
They were a true team, every player deserved it, especially Kidd and Dirk. Kidd will be in the HOF soon, but likely coaching on the sidelines in his career.
12.6 points, 8.7 assists, 6.3 rebounds, 1.9 steals
Those are career numbers over a 16(17?) year career. Had he retired 3 years ago after his title win those numbers would be more like 14ppg and 10apg, but pay no mind to that. Possibly the best rebounding PG ever (well 2nd to Magic) and simply one of the best pure PG’s to ever play the game. And while I love and respect Nash, Kidd’s always been a great defender as well, making him a superior player to me (not the same shooter obviously). Jason Kidd might go down underrated if we think about his numbers from the Dallas title team and his 36 year old frame; or even this season at age 40 playing with the Knicks in the playoffs for 15 minutes a game.
If we remember the Kidd that played in Phoenix and showed how great he could become, and then took New Jersey to the finals on his back… to only fail multiple times. Then adapting his game and style in Dallas knowing he’s not the same specimen physically and can’t put up 20 points when he wants to, but ran the offense and improved that ugly jumper out of college into a 40% 3pt shooter. Winning the finals was past his prime but he still was the major key, just his IQ and presence. RIP to the Kidd… see you coaching on the sidelines soon.
