dukeknicksirish wrote:Does Kidd give us an edge in the Giannis sweepstakes ?
Basically a compliation of Giannis' thoughts and relationship with Kidd:
Giannis Antetokounmpo has publicly and repeatedly credited Jason Kidd for being a significant influence on his development and success in the NBA. After Kidd was fired as head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks in 2018, Giannis spoke openly about Kidd's impact:
He was a big part of my success. He trusted me, he put the ball in my hands, he motivated me on a daily basis, he pushed me to be great and not to be mediocre. ... I was 19 when he came and he said he was going to put the ball in my hands. The first time I wasn't ready. I told him, 'Coach, I'm not ready to create and make plays for the team.' He said, 'OK, we're going to take our time.' The next year, he put the ball in my hands and I was ready.
Giannis has also described Kidd as someone he loves and cares about personally, emphasizing loyalty and the emotional difficulty he felt when Kidd was dismissed as coach
Their relationship has been described as close and personal, extending beyond just coach and player. Kidd himself has mentioned that he and Giannis have remained in contact, even speaking shortly after the birth of Giannis's son, highlighting their ongoing friendship
Under Kidd’s coaching, Giannis evolved from a raw, inexperienced teenager into one of the NBA’s most dominant players. Kidd was instrumental in giving Giannis more responsibility on the court, notably by putting the ball in his hands and encouraging him to become a playmaker. Giannis has acknowledged that Kidd’s trust and guidance were crucial steps in his development
