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Kidd's Jersey retirement....in the PRESEASON???

Posted: Wed Oct 9, 2013 7:56 pm
by enetric
My first post back after a summer off. Its my 25,000th career post...and we know few of them have been short and sweet...lol Yikes that's a lot of time spent on RealGM. :D

Of those of you I havent spoken to since free agency in July, I hope you had a great summer. I am sure we are all looking forward to the most promising season since we traded Marbury for JKidd the greatest Net in franchise history. Speaking of which...I was personally upset during the game last night. No, not just because I had to watch Ty Taylor play like the D leaguer he is destined to be...but it was the commercial advertising Kidd's jersey retirement ceremony during a pre-season game. Did Yormak fall on his head? This should be at a regular season game. I know he is suspended for the first two, but come on! We couldn't do better than this? First national broadcast game perhaps? I really feel this is dropping the ball.

The Brooklyn Nets will retire Jason Kidd's No. 5 jersey prior to their Oct. 17 preseason game against the Miami Heat at Barclays Center, the team announced Monday.

Kidd, hired as Nets coach June 12, formerly starred as a point guard with the team.


"This is a very humbling honor and one that I will always cherish," Kidd said in a statement. "There can be no greater recognition of an athlete's time with any team than to have his number retired, and this gesture by the Nets organization validates a very significant portion of my career that was spent as a player with this franchise."

Kidd played for the New Jersey Nets for six-plus seasons (2001-08), averaging 14.6 points, 9.1 assists and 7.2 rebounds. He led the team to NBA Finals appearances in 2002 and 2003.

"My warmest congratulations to Jason as we commemorate his outstanding career as an NBA player and his unparalleled contribution to the Nets franchise," team owner Mikhail Prokhorov said in a statement. "As one chapter closes, another will soon be written, and I know that we are all looking forward to Jason's continued successes."

Less than two weeks after he announced his retirement following a 19-year career in the NBA, the Nets named Kidd as their coach.

Kidd also will be buying a portion of Jay-Z's minority share of the team, a source confirmed to ESPN's Darren Rovell.

"This honor is richly deserved," Nets general manager Billy King said. "Jason is firmly established in the Nets' record books as the greatest player in the team's NBA history, and the retirement of his No. 5 is a fitting conclusion to his legacy as a Nets player."

Kidd will become the sixth player in franchise history to have his number raised to the rafters, joining Drazen Petrovic (No. 3), John Williamson (No. 23), Bill Melchionni (No. 25),Julius Erving (No. 32) and Charles "Buck" Williams (No. 52).

Kidd holds the franchise's NBA records for assists (4,620), steals (950), 3-point field goals made (813) and triple-doubles (61).

During his tenure with the Nets, Kidd was selected to five All-Star teams and captained the team to six consecutive playoff appearances -- including four Atlantic Division titles.

Re: Kidd's Jersey retirement....in the PRESEASON???

Posted: Wed Oct 9, 2013 9:20 pm
by DarkXaero
Kidd wanted it to be preseason so that it doesn't become a distraction during the regular season.

Re: Kidd's Jersey retirement....in the PRESEASON???

Posted: Wed Oct 9, 2013 11:58 pm
by NyCeEvO
Yeah, we all wondered the same thing E, but apparently Kidd wanted it during the preseason. It would've been way better to have it during the regular season (and I kinda wish management/marketing would've strongly advised him to do it during the regular season) but Kidd gets his wish.

Re: Kidd's Jersey retirement....in the PRESEASON???

Posted: Thu Oct 10, 2013 2:18 am
by enetric
You dont let the Birthday boy plan his surprise party. You just buy balloons, beer and strippers and say SURPRISE!

(Yes I realize I may be leading you to think I had a strange and yet awesome childhood).

Re: Kidd's Jersey retirement....in the PRESEASON???

Posted: Thu Oct 10, 2013 10:52 am
by SpeedyG
Welcome to 2 months ago old man!

Re: Kidd's Jersey retirement....in the PRESEASON???

Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2013 4:56 pm
by NyCeEvO
Is anyone from here going to this game?

Re: Kidd's Jersey retirement....in the PRESEASON???

Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 6:46 pm
by enetric
SpeedyG wrote:Welcome to 2 months ago old man!


And what? It's not relevant right now? lol? :D


I just feel this is a big moment. Not just for him but for the fans. I was at the game when they retired Drazen's number. It was unforgettable but very sad.. This should be treated as a major franchise moment. A happy one.

I just really feel like they botched this.

But either way, congrats to JKidd.

Re: Kidd's Jersey retirement....in the PRESEASON???

Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 7:13 pm
by vincecarter4pres
I agree, I couldn't/can't understand why this wouldn't be done during the regular season at some point.

Not the end of the world, but they really dropped the ball on this.

Re: Kidd's Jersey retirement....in the PRESEASON???

Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 7:20 pm
by NyCeEvO
So I guess no one is going to this?

Re: Kidd's Jersey retirement....in the PRESEASON???

Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 8:53 pm
by DieHardNETS
I'm impressed with the attendance so far. We drew 16k+ and 15.5k for our first two games and the Heat game is expected to be a sellout.

Pre-season games at 90%+ capacity? Wohoo. I guess that's what you get with 13,000+ season ticket holders.

Re: Kidd's Jersey retirement....in the PRESEASON???

Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 10:42 pm
by NyCeEvO
DieHardNETS wrote:I'm impressed with the attendance so far. We drew 16k+ and 15.5k for our first two games and the Heat game is expected to be a sellout.

Pre-season games at 90%+ capacity? Wohoo. I guess that's what you get with 13,000+ season ticket holders.

Yeah, I was going to comment on this in the Nets thread.

I got in late and wasn't able to go to the game, so when I turned on the game in the 4th quarter I was surprised to hear such a loud crowd. Then as I looked as I saw that the place was packed.

Compare that to the previous Sixer game where it looked like a 50 people showed up to the Wells Fargo arena in Philly lol.

Re: Kidd's Jersey retirement....in the PRESEASON???

Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2013 4:21 am
by Basileus777
I think it's pretty evident that Kidd pressured them into making this as little of a distraction as possible. Otherwise, when would this franchise ever pass up the opportunity to make a show of things?

Re: Kidd's Jersey retirement....in the PRESEASON???

Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 2:57 am
by NBAMcGee23
Well they explained it on TNT about how Kidd wanted as little of a distraction as possible for his season opener.

Seems reasonable given it's his first regular season game as head coach.