Jason Kidd Eyes Brooklyn Nets Head Coach Job [Report]
Jason Kidd as the Brooklyn Nets new head coach? It could happen according to reports.
The recently retired point guard has reportedly let it be know that he is interested in the gig even though it would be relatively unusual for someone to go immediately from active player to head coach without any assistant coaching in between. Apparently this is more than a rumor. “[H]is candidacy has been discussed within the highest levels of the organization.”
Kidd will apparently sit down with Nets GM Billy King this week to discuss his candidacy for the coaching vacancy. An unnamed person from the Jason Kidd camp has said that “Jason feels he’s really ready to do this.” According to another source, “There are some hurdles to overcome … Kidd — with no coaching experience at age 40 — only would be considered if he could assemble ‘an All-Star cast’ of veteran assistants to support him.”
Considered a lock for the Hall of Fame, Kidd, retired last week after 19 NBA seasons even though he had two years left on contract with the New York Knicks. A co-Rookie of the Year and 10 time All Star, JKidd is second all-time in assists and steals behind John Stockton, won an NBA championship with the Dallas Mavericks, and earned two Olympic gold medals with Team USA. He played with the Mavs (twice), Phoenix Suns, the-then New Jersey Nets, and the Knicks. While the captain of the Nets, he led to the team to two NBA Finals appearances and is said to still have strong ties with that organization as well as with star guard Deron Williams.
The Nets are also considering Indiana Pacers assistant Brian Shaw for the coaching position which became vacant when the team decided against retaining interim head coach P. J. Carlesimo after the Chicago Bulls eliminated the Nets in the first round of the playoffs. Carlesimo replaced Avery Johnson who was fired early in the regular season. Carlesimo has been showing up on ESPN lately as an NBA analyst.
Ironically, Kidd had the reputation as a so-called “coach killer” in that some believe he was responsible for the firing of Byron Scott as Nets head coach.
Kidd’s pursuit of the Nets head coaching gig has been endorsed by none other than the well respected San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich. “When you’ve played in the league as long as Jason has and played for a number of coaches, he’s pretty much seen everything that the NBA can offer. So he does have experience. If he’s crazy enough to want to be a head coach in the league, I wish him all the best. But he certainly has the intuitive skills to know what’s going on out there … So if that’s what he wants to do, and that’s who they want to hire, I think that he’s got an opportunity and a possibility to be really, really good at it.”
Do you think Jason Kidd would make a good head coach right now?
