The Brooklyn Nets have announced Jason Kidd as the team’s new head coach. While a full press conference will be held at the Barclay Center on Thursday, the cat is out of the bag on this announcement.
A press release from Team Owner Mikhail Prokhorov said the following:
“Jason Kidd has a long and legendary history with the Nets and with the city of New York. He has the fire in the belly we need, and has achieved as a player everything the Brooklyn Nets are striving to achieve. We believe he will lead us there. Welcome home, Jason.”
Kidd released the following press release:
“This is a tremendous opportunity to be named head coach of the Brooklyn Nets, and it’s a role I have been studying for over the course of my playing days. Championship teams are built on being prepared, playing unselfishly and being held accountable, and that’s how I expect to coach this basketball team. I am truly excited about this next phase of my basketball career.”
Kidd recently retired, after spending last season with the New York Knicks. He played for the Nets, (then the New Jersey Nets) from 2001 to 2008. He led the club to the NBA finals in 2002 and 2003. He is the franchise’s statistical leader in numerous statistical categories including assists and steals.
It will be interesting to see how Kidd does in his foray straight into coaching with no experience at lower levels or as an assistant. Many have said that as a point guard Kidd often acted like a “coach on the floor” for his teams. How this will translate to being a coach on the bench will remain to be seen.
Another intriguing storyline here is Kidd’s close relationship with Nets point guard Deron Williams. Kidd’s most important job will be to get his protege to consistently play at his best going forward. If he can light a fire under Williams and keep him motivated, the chances of this being a succesful career change for Kidd increase dramatically.
Kidd will be replacing P.J. Carlesimo, the interim coach who took over from Avery Johnson at mid season. Carlesimo’s contract was not renewed at the end of the Nets season. The Nets finished 49-33 and 4th in the Eastern Conference last season, but lost in the first round to the Chicago Bulls.
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