Making the Case for Jason Kidd
Professional sports can be a funny business sometimes. We celebrate and copy innovative approaches to the game when successful. However, during tough decisions teams generally lean towards the conservative, “safe” option.
The Brooklyn Nets made a bold move in hiring Jason Kidd to lead their team next season and beyond. Hiring a first time head coach with zero experience in that role is certainly a sign of an open-minded organization. Many have mocked this decision by the Nets’ ownership and have predicted failure. Some felt that they would have been better off with candidates like Brian Shaw or Lionel Hollins.
I feel that the underlying doubt and criticism in the hiring of Jason Kidd is due to the close mindedness of many involved in sports: the owners, general managers, media, and fans. Critics point out that Kidd was playing across the East River for the Knicks this past season. How can he possibly make the leap from player to coach in just a few months?
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Kidd’s championship experience can only help Williams elevate his game.[/caption]
It is not common to see a player make the instant transition to head coach, but where does it say that he must serve under another coach? Obviously, it would be beneficial to be an assistant to gain experience, but is it mandatory? Wouldn’t a well assembled, experienced coaching staff expedite the learning process for a rookie head coach?
I have heard many in the sports media suggest that Kidd should have worked in broadcasting before seeking a coaching position. After all, this is what Mark Jackson did prior to becoming the head coach of the Golden State Warriors. The pundits insisted that a broadcasting job would help distance Kidd from being a player so that his team wouldn’t view him as a fellow peer.
If credibility is a concern, then perhaps we should look at Kidd’s resume as a player on the court. He led his teams to 17 playoff appearances in his 19 year career. As the point guard, he was the one orchestrating the offense and serving as an extension of the coach on the court. He knew how to bring out the strengths of his teammates and instilled a winning attitude.
No example is better than his transformation of the New Jersey Nets during his seven year tenure with them. Prior to that deal, the Nets had been consistently one of the worst franchises within the league. The only exception to this was the brief success experienced during the Chuck Daly era.
Kidd’s arrival led to the Nets doubling their win total from the previous year and ultimately reaching The Finals. Under his leadership as a player, the culture of the once laughing stock franchise changed almost instantly. Players that experienced nothing but failure at the professional level developed excellent team chemistry and the mental toughness to be successful. The Nets were the Eastern Conference Champions in his first two seasons and were consistently a winner. Remember that he was also a big part in helping the Mavericks reach their title, when for years they were labeled an underachieving, soft team.
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Natural born leader? The same supporting cast with Stephon Marbury won half as many games the previous year.[/caption]
We have all heard the argument that former superstars never make good head coaches. Yes, Jason Kidd is certainly a future Hall of Famer, but what makes him unique compared to other stars of his generation was that his game was predicated on getting his teammates involved and making everyone better. He was, in essence, the ultimate team player. His success and impact didn’t always show up in the box score. How many other players could dominate a game with a 5-point, 8-assist performance?
He was also a flawed player that earned him the nickname “Ason” early on for his poor jump shooting. His work ethic over time made him a much improved shooter. Were you aware that he has the third most 3-point field goals in NBA history?
This quality is an important one, because it shows that he was humbled early on and worked diligently to overcome this shortcoming in his game. I expect that Kidd will be able to relate well to his players and understand their limitations, because he too had his imperfections. It also shows that he has tremendous work ethic and will be motivated to learn all of the intricacies of being a head coach.
To dismiss these attributes because of his off the court troubles is somewhat foolish. Was he a model citizen throughout his playing days? Of course he wasn’t, but so are some of our elected leaders in government. At the end of the day, Kidd’s job is to lead this team to the next level.
Certainly there were motivations to steal the headlines, but Billy King and company went against the grain for other reasons. Kidd was a genius on the court and his basketball acumen could very much lead to success as a coach. This is a case of thinking “outside the box” and people mock it because it goes against the common practices in sports. Would they have ridiculed the hiring of a coaching retread like Scott Skiles, George Karl, or another “safe” choice?
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Even the “proven” coaches can’t always get their teams over the hump.[/caption]
In the end, certain people are leaders and this characteristic of a person cannot be taught. The real questions are can Kidd help Deron Williams elevate his game to the next level and can he change the team’s “gutless and heartless” identity that the Bulls mocked during their playoff series? Doubters may be inclined to say no, but the one thing we have learned from watching Jason Kidd for the past 19 years is that he is a proven winner and leader who has defied the odds once before.
