Brooklyn Nets: Jason Kidd's Jersey To Be Retired By Club

From the desk of:   THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

BROOKLYN NETS: A Jersey Rises In Brooklyn; Jason Kidd's #5 To Be Retired By Club.

Say it isn't so.  Tell me the Nets are not retiring Jason Kidd's jersey during a pre-season game in October.  Please tell me instead, this is some administrative error by Brett Yormark's staff, and that the real date will be much more conducive to a proper celebration for arguably (with all due respect to Dr.J....) the Nets best player ever.

That's how I started this post yesterday, before putting it off.

Today I read Jason Kidd himself requested the ceremony not be conducted during the season.  If that's the way Coach wants it, so let it be - it's his jersey.  His #5 will join those of #3-Drazen Petrovic, #23-John Williamson, #-25 Bill Melchionni, #32-Dr. J - Julius Irvin, and #52-Buck Williams.  The ceremony will take place on Thursday, October 17th.

I have memories of Dr.J in a Nets uniform.  I remember Irvin's last two seasons in Long Island before he was sold to the Philadelphia 76ers.  Otherwise, in my experience, Jason Kidd is indeed the best player to ever don a Nets jersey, bar none.  Between 2001 and 2008 Jason Kidd averaged 14.6 points per game, 9.1 assists and 7.2 rebounds.  He ushered in the new millennia by leading the then New Jersey Nets to back-to-back Eastern Conference championships in 2002 and 2003.

Jason Kidd is second all-time in the NBA in assists, and eighth in assists per game.  He is second all-time in steals, and ranks third in total 3-point shots made and total minutes played.  Of course he deserves the honor.  However, some, civilian or NBA, have their (legitimate...) issues with Jason Kidd.  For the record, I'm not one of them.  I just call 'em as I see 'em.

There is no doubt Jason Kidd is a risky choice for head coach.  The obvious reason is he has no experience.  Some experiments in OJT-coaching have worked, while some have failed miserably.  Working in his favor will be having Lawrence Frank by his side, and the fact he will be working with a largely veteran team.  Then there is the looming media affect.  Come opening night, no one will be able to escape the fact Jason Kidd will be suspended (DWI) for the first two games of the season.  I'm sure some outlet will also try to rehash the past, by bringing up purported incidences involving his then ex-wife, or how he may have malingered in his last days as a Nets player.  Wait.., they already have.

I'll say this for GM Billy King, Rod Thorn was never this bold or bodacious.  To criticize Mr. King over this hire would make me a hypocrite, for I'm the one who always says - Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained.  Mr. Prokhorov still has every intention of winning a title within five years.  Billy King has certainly taken very bold steps towards that end.  But the grains of Coney Island sand grains running through his hour glass begin to run low.

The Nets are a win now team.  Good Luck Jason, and congratulations.




Mike.BTB