Jason Kidd: Player to Coach to Part-Owner

Jason Kidd

Kidd: The Coach

Jason Kidd as a player took the New Jersey Nets franchise to new heights. The Nets’ management is now hoping that Kidd as the Head Coach will again be able to impact the team the same way. Kidd becomes the third player since the 1976-77 ABA-NBA merger to become a head coach immediately after retiring as a player. His strong relationship with Nets’ Star Deron Williams, in addition to his vast experience, played a huge factor in Kidd becoming the head coach.

This is what Kidd had to say on the appointment:

I’m a rookie. I go from being one of the oldest players in the league to now a rookie coach. I’m very excited about the challenge. I think being here in Brooklyn we have a special opportunity to achieve that status as to being a championship-type-caliber team, and I’m looking forward to being part of that, helping with the structure and sharing things I [brought to the table] as a player such as being unselfish, communicating and being tough, and hopefully I can get that across to the guys.

He has met with his fair share of skepticism, who think that appointing a person who has never coached, as the head coach of a team aiming to win a championship is a huge risk. However, Kidd’s leadership skills will definitely be to his advantage. He has been observing coaches for a long time and he has even begun to keep a diary from 2010 in which he notes down how he would do things differently if he was the coach. Kidd definitely has a championship deserving team with All-Stars Deron Williams, Brook Lopez, Joe Johnson and former All-Star Gerald Wallace. Whether he can turn this championship deserving team into a championship team against the likes of powerhouses like Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder remains to be seen.

Kidd: The Owner

In 2003, Kidd recommended rapper Jay-Z to buy a small percentage of the then New Jersey Nets. Now, Kidd himself is all set to buy half of Jay-Z’s share. Rumours have started floating around that this will give Kidd way too power, that he will answer to none but himself. No, this is not true, guys. Kidd is buying just a fraction of a percent of the Nets franchise.

Kidd already has a lot of expectations on him. Stellar player, future hall of famer, veteran player now a rookie head coach. This decision on his part might be a smart move, indirectly assuring the fans that he has more than just his job at stake if the Nets fail to perform well. He may also be hinting that he’s in this for the long run. Personally, I believe Kidd will make a good coach. Will Kidd the Head Coach/ Part owner be able to elevate the Nets to never before achieved heights of glory?