Jason Kidd to Coach the Nets

[FNQ]

didn't kidd win some sportsmanship award the last two yrs?

Wouldnt shock me a bit. Its unfortunate how much of this stuff can get swept under the rug... All I know is that in my real life experience with him, he definitely did not seem like a guy who can communicate well enough to coach.

I'm sure I'm overstating it because I have a real deep dislike for the guy as a person, but he didnt seem to be a great instructor either. Just throwing it out there, its not my problem: he's not coaching the Warriors or future Sonics. But I think BKN fans deserve to know that there's a side to Kidd that is mostly glossed over, and I'm not talking about his domestic violence.

[Rockice_24]

Maybe if he went to a team that wasnt a rival last year. Hes going to have to gain the respect of the players that fought against him last year in a leadership type role. Granted hes a respected player around the league especially in that organization, there will still be a barrier he will have to overcome to make that transition fully.

They really need to fix that team though. Regardless of him being the coach I dont see them doing as well as they did this year - or getting out of the first round unless they make some moves.

So you're saying a team that got thrown together in one offseason with poor coaching, can't tinker to make the pieces fit better as well as improve team chemistry and improve? They peaked after one season got it.

Kidd was a good hire. Strong BBIQ (one of the best), well respected and has strong ties to the team. I wouldn't have minded Shaw either but I agree with taking the chance on Kidd over Karl and Hollins.

[Rockice_24]

didn't kidd win some sportsmanship award the last two yrs?

Wouldnt shock me a bit. Its unfortunate how much of this stuff can get swept under the rug... All I know is that in my real life experience with him, he definitely did not seem like a guy who can communicate well enough to coach.

I'm sure I'm overstating it because I have a real deep dislike for the guy as a person, but he didnt seem to be a great instructor either. Just throwing it out there, its not my problem: he's not coaching the Warriors or future Sonics. But I think BKN fans deserve to know that there's a side to Kidd that is mostly glossed over, and I'm not talking about his domestic violence.

Care to elaborate? Were you a teammate of his, a old friend, maybe manage his money. What is your experience with him?

[TheAlchemist]

Terrible decision.

[Paradise]

Huge mistake IMO

Depends on who is his assistants. He will get guys to play hard and for each other. That was the biggest issue with PJ.

[FNQ]

I worked very closely with Camp LaPorte, which in California was a big deal. Frank LaPorte was considered one of, if not the best, HS basketball coach in the area, turning down college gigs left and right. Anyways, we were both taught under LaPorte.

Kidd is about a decade older than I am, but he was frequently contacted by both his alma maters (St Joes High in Alameda, and Cal Berkeley, both my alma maters as well) and every once in a while when he was booked to show up, he showed up. And when he did, he was extremely rude to everyone at the program, even Coach LaPorte made a comment to me about him being such a prima donna.

A SJHS/UCLA product, Ray Young, was with me one time and was so excited to meet J-Kidd. Kidd was his idol. Young was our top player as a soph and a really great kid. Kidd demeaned him when he didnt perform a drill like Kidd asked, so I sat and watched the 2nd round. He told Young to go around a screen, cross over, and then drive down the left. Young did exactly that, and when he got back to Kidd, Kidd berated him and said he was wasting his time being here, it was pointless, and walked away from Young. We had to talk Ray out of quitting... he was 15 or 16 y/o.

At CAL he blew off a few events and cited that it was a miscommunication with his agent several times, even when he was on the exact same conference call. He just always had an excuse, and was just annoyed to be there constantly. The kids never learned a thing from him, they just tried to stay out of his way because of the way he spoke to them.

In addition there were several of his old teammates at SJHS and even Cal (Lamond Murray being the most prominent) who told me how he wasnt much different when they played with him.

So I'm a little amazed the Nets gave him this spot... but like I said, I dont wish them anything bad. I just hope Kidd gets fired real quickly and the Nets get a person who's not only a good coach, but a good person. I know Kidd isn't the latter, but he may be the former.

[Trader_Joe]

Maybe if he went to a team that wasnt a rival last year. Hes going to have to gain the respect of the players that fought against him last year in a leadership type role. Granted hes a respected player around the league especially in that organization, there will still be a barrier he will have to overcome to make that transition fully.

They really need to fix that team though. Regardless of him being the coach I dont see them doing as well as they did this year - or getting out of the first round unless they make some moves.

So you're saying a team that got thrown together in one offseason with poor coaching, can't tinker to make the pieces fit better as well as improve team chemistry and improve? They peaked after one season got it.

Kidd was a good hire. Strong BBIQ (one of the best), well respected and has strong ties to the team. I wouldn't have minded Shaw either but I agree with taking the chance on Kidd over Karl and Hollins.

Yes they peaked, despite...

-They had the single biggest turn around last season of any team
-It was essentially an entirely new roster with no chemistry or experience together
-They were coached terribly by Avery and PJC
-Deron had a poor 1st half to the season
-Evans was our starting PF
-They will add Bogdanovic, #22, and any return on Hump (and they have all their future picks)
-The following players are all 25 and under or were rookies: Lopez, Brooks, Taylor, Toko, Teletovic
-a 3-1 record against the C's, 3-0 against Indy, 2-2 against NY, 2-2 against the Bucks, 2-2 against Atlanta as in their playoff foes. Miami and Chicago were the only playoff teams they struggled against.

[chocodog]

Wow. A direct transition from player to head coach is tough. There's no time for reflection whatsoever. It will be interesting.

Is Kidd the first NBA player to directly transition to an NBA coach? I recall Bill Russell coaching soon after retirement but I don't think it was directly (just looked it up and it was 4 years after).

[JSmooth93]

Watch him win 60 games.

But F*** the Nets.

[WaffleRecord]

Who knew Jason Kidd would become the head coach for the Nets 2 weeks after he retires

[Trader_Joe]

Who knew Jason Kidd would become the head coach for the Nets 2 weeks after he retires

I think he did.. and thus left $6m on the table.

[HelloBrooklyn]

I worked very closely with Camp LaPorte, which in California was a big deal. Frank LaPorte was considered one of, if not the best, HS basketball coach in the area, turning down college gigs left and right. Anyways, we were both taught under LaPorte.

Kidd is about a decade older than I am, but he was frequently contacted by both his alma maters (St Joes High in Alameda, and Cal Berkeley, both my alma maters as well) and every once in a while when he was booked to show up, he showed up. And when he did, he was extremely rude to everyone at the program, even Coach LaPorte made a comment to me about him being such a prima donna.

A SJHS/UCLA product, Ray Young, was with me one time and was so excited to meet J-Kidd. Kidd was his idol. Young was our top player as a soph and a really great kid. Kidd demeaned him when he didnt perform a drill like Kidd asked, so I sat and watched the 2nd round. He told Young to go around a screen, cross over, and then drive down the left. Young did exactly that, and when he got back to Kidd, Kidd berated him and said he was wasting his time being here, it was pointless, and walked away from Young. We had to talk Ray out of quitting... he was 15 or 16 y/o.

At CAL he blew off a few events and cited that it was a miscommunication with his agent several times, even when he was on the exact same conference call. He just always had an excuse, and was just annoyed to be there constantly. The kids never learned a thing from him, they just tried to stay out of his way because of the way he spoke to them.

In addition there were several of his old teammates at SJHS and even Cal (Lamond Murray being the most prominent) who told me how he wasnt much different when they played with him.

So I'm a little amazed the Nets gave him this spot... but like I said, I dont wish them anything bad. I just hope Kidd gets fired real quickly and the Nets get a person who's not only a good coach, but a good person. I know Kidd isn't the latter, but he may be the former.

Good read btw.. I like the inside info. for this.

You have a great point but, maybe he had a reason why he was so hard on those High School kids. I mean there really is no reason for him to be such a prick. Maybe, he was just trying to figure out to the kids that you guys are trying to mold if they had some competitive/leadership personality.

Like the example you gave about Ray Young. The fact that he took Kidd's comment so hard just shows he didn't have competitive or leadership personality. Or at the very least not good enough NBA wise because he never became a NBA player. His comment should've pushed him to work harder not quit. That shows a lot on a person.

For example, MJ didn't didn't play much on his varsity team prior to his senior year. I mean that just gave him the strive to work harder. Do you see what I mean? That was the difference between a person who won't quit and a person that would quit.

[Paradise]

Who knew Jason Kidd would become the head coach for the Nets 2 weeks after he retires

He did. I wouldn't be surprised if Deron asked him on trying out for it.

[FNQ]

@HelloBrooklyn

It's strictly a judgement call. Its hard to detail exactly what I saw there, but I've been around 'tough love' coaches before. LaPorte was one of the best at that actually... I didnt see anything there that made me think Kidd was a good coach. He often stood around and talked with former teammates and offered little advice - generally standoffish - and the Young example was just something that I really remember vividly. Sure, it could be to see how tough he is - but the kid was 15 or 16. He's meeting his idol, and wants to learn from him. When Kidd says its pointless to talk to him and he was wasting his time talking to him... I dunno. I really have a tough time seeing that as trying toughen the kid.

When I assisted LaPorte, he did similar things. But he would go over to the coaches and let them know what he did, and to monitor the player to see how he responded.

I dunno, at the end its hard to explain and its just one man's take, but I was a huge Jason Kidd fan up until I had to deal with him. He was a big reason I went to the HS and college I did. And he turned out to be a really insufferable person in my eyes. But who knows, could be a great guy/coach now that he's almost a decade older. But his DUI and other off-court problems make me think he's the same guy trying to capitalize on his basketball career. Which is smart for him, but I think the current Nets deserve a coach that's proven to be a good manager of people, and a good motivator. I doubt Kidd can do that.

[Buju]

Williams will get him fired out too

[Jellybeans824]

How many games/seasons do they give him if he comes out of the gate struggling?

Dude hasn't even been retired for more than a month. No experience. Win-now team

Really?

Even though he's well-liked/respected. Would guys like Deron/Joe Johnson/Wallace see him as "one of the guys" and tune him out at times?

I see it like me working with my best friends..and then all of a sudden he gets promoted to president lol

[ferk]

Passedon LH for Kidd.

Smart move tbh.

[daboywonder2007]

How many games/seasons do they give him if he comes out of the gate struggling?

Dude hasn't even been retired for more than a month. No experience. Win-now team

Really?

Even though he's well-liked/respected. Would guys like Deron/Joe Johnson/Wallace see him as "one of the guys" and tune him out at times?

I see it like me working with my best friends..and then all of a sudden he gets promoted to president lol

stop it. this is not a win now team.

[Vides990]

Ewing must be on suicide watch after this. I mean damn, what does that man need to do to get a HC gig?

Maybe actually focus on coaching the team he works for as assistant is supposed to vs trying to hang out with the cheerleaders....

[sp6r=underrated]

The Nets once again prove why they will go nowhere. Much like Dolan they are obsessed with winning the back pages of the post and Daily News rather than taking steps that will pay long-term dividends.

If you look at the best coaches recently in the NBA they either never played (Pop, Tibs) or spent many years coaching either as an assistant or in the minor leagues before taking the head chair (Jackson, Carlisle).

I have no idea whether Kidd can coach and neither do the Nets but the logic behind the hire is quite awful.