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Jason Kidd
Jason Kidd (2017)
Kidd coaching front of the sideline during a Bucks game in November 2017.
Dallas Mavericks
Position:  Head coach
Personal information
Born:  March 23, 1973 (1973-03-23) (age 50)
 San Francisco, California
Listed height:  6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight:  210 lbs (95 kg)
Playing career
High school:  St. Joseph Notre Dame
 (Alameda, California)
College:  California (1992–1994)
NBA Draft:  1994 / Round: 1 / Pick: 2nd
Selected by the Dallas Mavericks
Position:  Point Guard
Number:  5, 32, 2
Career history
As player:
As coach:
Career highlights and awards
As player:
As assistant coach:

stats at NBA.com
stats at Basketball-reference
Basketball Hall of Fame (as player)

Jason Frederick Kidd (born March 23, 1973) is an American professional basketball coach and former player who is the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Playing Point Guard in the NBA, Kidd was a 10-time NBA All-Star, a five-time All-NBA First Team member, and a nine-time NBA All-Defensive Team member. He won an NBA championship in 2011 as a member of the Dallas Mavericks and was a two-time gold medal winner in the Olympics with the U.S. national team in 2000 and 2008. In September 2018, he was inducted as a player into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. In October 2021, Kidd was honored as one of the league's greatest players of all time by being named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.

Kidd played college basketball for the California Golden Bears and was drafted second overall by the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the 1994 NBA Draft. He was named co-NBA Rookie of the Year in his first season with the Mavericks, along with Grant Hill. Then, from 1996 to 2001, Kidd played for the Phoenix Suns and later for the New Jersey Nets from 2001 to 2008. He led the Nets to two consecutive NBA Finals appearances in 2002 and 2003. In the middle of the 2007–08 season, Kidd was traded back to Dallas. At age 38, Kidd won his only NBA championship when Dallas defeated the Miami Heat in six games in the 2011 Finals. He finished his playing career in 2013 with the New York Knicks. The following season, he became the head coach of the Nets, who had relocated from New Jersey to Brooklyn the year before when he retired. After one season, he was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks, where he coached for four seasons until he was fired mid-season in 2018. In 2019, Kidd then became an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers, winning a championship in 2020 once again against the Heat in six games. After two seasons, Kidd became a head coach for the Mavericks.

Kidd's ability to pass and rebound made him a regular triple-double threat, and he retired ranked third all-time in the NBA for regular season triple-doubles with a career total of 107 and third in playoff triple-doubles with a career total of 11. He ranks second on the NBA all-time lists in career assists and steals and 12th in three-point field goals made.

Early life[]

Kidd was born in San Francisco, California, the oldest of 6 children of Steve and Anne Kidd. His father, now deceased, was African-American and his mother is Irish American. He was raised in Oakland Hills, an upper middle class section of Oakland. He attended St. Paschal's Baylon School in Oakland Hills. He frequented the city courts of Oakland, where he often found himself pitted against Hall of Famer Gary Payton. The two still reminisce about the playing days of their youth. During his youth, Kidd also excelled at soccer as well as other sports.

At St. Joseph Notre Dame High School in Alameda, California, under the guidance of legendary prep coach Frank LaPorte, Kidd led the Pilots to back-to-back state championships, averaging 25 points, 10 assists, 7 rebounds, and 7 steals his senior season. During that year, he also received a host of individual honors, including the Naismith Award as the nation's top high school player, and was named Player of the Year by PARADE and USA Today. The all-time prep leader in assists (1,155) and the state's seventh-best career scorer (2,661 points), Kidd was voted California Player of the Year for the second time and also a McDonald's All-American. On January 31, 2012, Kidd was honored as one of the 35 Greatest McDonald's All Americans.

After a highly publicized recruiting process, Kidd shocked many fans and pundits alike by choosing to attend the University of California, Berkeley -- a school that was coming off a 10-18 season and hadn't won a Pac-10 title since 1959 -- over a slew of top-ranked collegiate programs including the University of Arizona, the University of Kentucky, the University of Kansas, and the Ohio State University.

College[]

During his first year at California, Kidd averaged 13.0 points, 7.7 assists, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.8 steals per game which earned him national Freshman of the Year honors and a spot on the All Pac-10 Team, making him the fifth newcomer in conference history to do so. His 110 steals broke both the NCAA record for most steals by a freshman and set a school record for most steals in a season, while his 220 assists that season also was a school record. His play also was a key factor in the resurgence of Cal Basketball and helped The Golden Bears earn an NCAA Tournament bid, where they upset two-time defending National Champion Duke University in the second round of that tournament before losing to Kansas in the Sweet 16.

Kidd continued his success as a sophomore, tallying averages of 16.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.1 steals, and 9.1 assists, breaking his previous school record for most assists in a season with 272, while also leading the nation in that category. He was also selected a First Team All-American, the first Cal player to be so named since 1968, as well as Pac-10 Player of the Year, becoming the first sophomore to receive that honor. The Golden Bears would make the NCAA Tournament again as a 5 seed, but would be upset in the first round by Dick Bennett's twelve-seeded Wisconsin-Green Bay team 61-57. Kidd was also named a finalist for both the Naismith and Wooden Awards as college basketball's top player and subsequently opted to enter the NBA Draft in 1994. In 2004, the University of California, Berkeley retired Kidd's number 5 jersey, cementing his place among the school's all-time greats.

NBA career[]

Dallas Mavericks (1994–1996)[]

Kidd was selected as the second pick overall by the Dallas Mavericks, behind Glenn Robinson of Purdue, and just ahead of Duke's versatile swingman Grant Hill. In his first year, he averaged 11.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, 7.7 assists, and led the NBA in triple doubles, sharing 1995 NBA Rookie of the Year honors with Grant Hill of the Detroit Pistons. The year before the Mavericks drafted Kidd, they ended a season with the worst record in the NBA at 13-69. After Kidd's first season with the Mavericks, their record improved to 36-46 which was the best improvement in the NBA that season.

In the following season, Kidd also was voted in as a starter in the 1996 NBA All-Star Game. At the first 3 years with the Mavericks, the move most people associated him with is "the Baseball pass". Kidd was a member of the "Three J's" in Dallas along with Jim Jackson and Jamal Mashburn. However, that plan did not come to fruition, as all three found themselves playing for other teams shortly thereafter.

Phoenix Suns (1996–2001)[]

Jason Kidd Suns

Kidd playing for the Suns.

Kidd was traded to the Phoenix Suns along with Tony Dumas and Loren Meyer for Michael Finley, A.C. Green, and Sam Cassell during the 1996–97 season. In his first full season with the Suns in 1997–98, the team's win total improved by 16 games. The Suns, who finished the season with a 56–26 record, had been recognized for their fast-paced style of play with Kidd frequently leading a small lineup of four guards (Kidd, Kevin Johnson, Rex Chapman, and Steve Nash) being on the floor at the same time together with Antonio McDyess playing at Center.

In the 1998–99 season, Kidd averaged 10.8 assists per game to dethrone Washington's Rod Strickland as the league's assists leader. He also led the NBA with seven triple-doubles (the rest of the league had just 11) and was second in the NBA with 41.2 minutes per game (behind Allen Iverson's 41.5 mpg). Kidd averaged career highs in points (16.9 ppg), field goal percentage (.444), rebounds (6.8 rpg, best among NBA guards), and steals (2.28 spg, fourth in the NBA) and was the only player to be ranked among the top 50 in the NBA in 10 different statistical categories. The Suns won all seven of the games in which he had triple-doubles.

The Suns acquired Penny Hardaway from the Orlando Magic before the start of the 1999–00 season in hope of creating the best backcourt duo in the league. The combination of Kidd and Hardaway in the starting lineup was often labeled as the BackCourt 2000. Despite a decent 53–29 record, the Suns' season was spoiled by injuries to both of their superstars. Kidd, who broke his ankle late in the regular season, returned during the playoffs to help his team to beat the defending champion San Antonio Spurs and advance to the second round for the first time in his career.

The 2000–01 season was affected by Kidd's personal problems as he was charged with domestic abuse of his wife. The Suns, who struggled in the middle part of the season, finished strongly with a 15–6 record to secure another 50-win season. Kidd took on more of the offensive load after his teammates encouraged him to be more selfish. He recorded 30-plus points six times on the year and five times in the last 19 games. In one particular hot stretch, he scored 36, 32 and 31 in three consecutive games in mid-March, prior to which he had never recorded consecutive 30-point games.

During his stay in Phoenix, Kidd made the All-Star Game in 1998, 2000, and 2001 (in 1999 it was not held because of a lockout) and led the NBA in assists for three consecutive years (1999–2001). It was also with the Suns that Kidd rose to the status of the league's best playmaker as he was voted to the All-NBA First Team three years in a row (1999–2001).

New Jersey Nets (2001–2008)[]

KiddFTline

Kidd with the Nets in 2006.

2001–02 season[]

On June 28, 2001, after five seasons in Phoenix in which the team made the playoffs each year under Kidd, he was traded, along with Chris Dudley to the New Jersey Nets for Stephon Marbury, Johnny Newman, and Somailia Samake. The 2001-02 season saw Kidd lead the Nets to a surprising 52-30 finish, and marked one of his best all-around seasons as he finished second to the Spurs' Tim Duncan in MVP voting. Many have argued that Kidd deserved to win the award because of his impact in New Jersey—transforming the Nets from perennial league doormats into championship contenders seemingly in the space of a single training camp. His contribution to the Nets during his first season in New Jersey was huge, and resulted in one of the greatest turnarounds in NBA history. He was also fortunate to join the team when he did, as the team reaped the benefits of the newly healthy Kenyon Martin, Kerry Kittles, and Keith Van Horn; along with the trading of Eddie Griffin for Richard Jefferson, Jason Collins, and Brandon Armstrong.

Under Kidd's guidance, the young Nets team prospered through the playoffs and ended up advancing all the way to the Eastern Conference title and the franchise's first-ever appearance in the NBA Finals. Along the way they had some memorable moments including a double overtime victory against the Indiana Pacers in the decisive Game 5. Indiana's Reggie Miller forced the first overtime with a 35-foot three-pointer at the buzzer and the second one with a two-handed dunk, but the Nets eventually survived and beat Indiana 120–109. Kidd scored 20 of his then playoffs-best 31 points in the fourth quarter and overtimes. After defeating the Charlotte Hornets 4–1 in the second round, the Nets then faced the Boston Celtics in the Conference Finals. In that series Kidd and the Nets experienced the biggest fourth quarter collapse in the playoffs' history, when the Celtics came back from a 21-point deficit to win the pivotal Game 3, taking a 2–1 series lead. However, the Nets then won three consecutive games, while Kidd averaged a triple double for the entire series. In the NBA Finals, the Nets were swept in four games by Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant's Los Angeles Lakers.

2002–03 season[]

New Jersey enjoyed another stellar season under the helm of Kidd's leadership in the 2002–03 season, during which the team finished 49-33 and reached the NBA Finals once again. Kidd had his highest scoring season with 18.7 points per game and led the league in assists with 8.9 per game. This time, Kidd was selected to the All-NBA Second Team. In the playoffs after splitting the first four games with the Milwaukee Bucks, the Nets recorded a 10-game winning streak, while sweeping the Celtics and the Detroit Pistons on the way to their second consecutive NBA Finals. In the Finals, New Jersey lost to Tim Duncan's San Antonio Spurs in six games, even though the series was tied after the first four games.

2003–04 season[]

As an unrestricted free agent in the 2003 offseason, there was speculation that Kidd would join the defending champion Spurs and replace Tony Parker as their starting Point Guard. Parker, then young and unproven, was perceived to have "limitations" in his game that Kidd did not. However, Kidd elected to stay with the Nets on a 6-year, $99 million deal. In the 2003–04 season, Kidd averaged 15.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 9.2 assists (leading the league in assists for the second year in a row). The Nets led by Kidd finished the season 47–35 as their leader was voted to the All-NBA First Team for the fifth time in his career. In the playoffs, however, they lost in the Conference Semifinals in a seven-game series against the Detroit Pistons, the eventual champions. Kidd went scoreless in the decisive Game 7, while playing with a serious knee injury.

2004–05 season[]

On July 1, 2004, Kidd underwent microfracture surgery to repair a damaged knee. He made a full recovery and returned to the court for the 2004–05 season in December, during which the Nets acquired star swingman Vince Carter from the Toronto Raptors. With the Nets hanging on the prospect of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2001 and with Jefferson injured, Carter and Kidd combined to fuel the team to a late regular season surge that enabled them to inch past the Cleveland Cavaliers for the eighth and final playoff berth in the East. The Nets were eliminated in four games to the top-seeded Miami Heat in the first round.

2005–06 season[]

In the 2005–06 season, Kidd averaged 13.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 8.4 assists. He and Carter led the Nets to a third-place finish in the East with a 49–33 record to clinch their fourth Atlantic Division title in the last five seasons. In April the Nets recorded NBA season-best winning streak, which was ended by the Cleveland Cavaliers at 14 wins in a row. Kidd was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team for the fourth time in his career. In the playoffs, the Nets beat the Indiana Pacers in six games in the first round, but later in the Conference Semifinal they were defeated again by the Miami Heat, the eventual champions.

2006–07 season[]

Kidd was named a reserve for the NBA All-Star game along with teammate Vince Carter during the 2006–07 season. However, Kidd missed the game because of a strained back and was replaced on the roster by Joe Johnson. On April 7, 2007, Kidd and Carter became the first teammates to record triple-doubles in the same game since Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen did it in 1989 for the Chicago Bulls. In the first round of the playoffs, Kidd averaged 14.0 points, 13.2 assists, 10.0 rebounds, and 2.0 steals, as the Nets defeated the Toronto Raptors in six games. He joined Wilt Chamberlain and Magic Johnson as the only players in NBA history to average a triple-double in multiple playoff series. For the postseason, Kidd averaged 14.6 points, 10.9 assists, and 10.9 rebounds in twelve playoff games. He became the second player in NBA history to average a triple-double for an entire postseason. Despite Kidd's efforts the Nets were eliminated in six games in the Eastern Conference Semifinals by the eventual Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers.

2007–08 season[]

In the 2007–08 season, Kidd became the third player to get a triple-double in three straight games since 1989. He did so after he logged his 97th career triple-double in a 115–99 loss to the Charlotte Bobcats. Kidd was voted by the fans to start in the 2008 All-Star Game in New Orleans as a guard along with Dwyane Wade. During that season Kidd had been mentioned in trade rumors, notably to the Los Angeles Lakers, but the deal fell through when the Lakers refused to give up their young Center Andrew Bynum. On January 28, 2008, Kidd revealed that his agent had been talking to the Nets' front office about a trade. On February 19, 2008, Kidd was traded to the Dallas Mavericks, the team that originally drafted him.

Return to the Dallas Mavericks (2008–2012)[]

Jason Kidd mavs

Kidd during his second tenure as a Maverick.

2008–2010: All-Star appearances and playoff upsets[]

On February 13, 2008, the Mavs and Nets reached an agreement on a trade to send Kidd and Malik Allen to Dallas for Devin Harris, Devean George, Jerry Stackhouse, DeSagana Diop, Maurice Ager, two first-round drafts picks (in 2008 and 2010), and $3 million, but the trade fell through when George invoked his (Early) Bird rights, as was stipulated in his contract at the time. The trade was retooled, with Trenton Hassell replacing George, and Keith Van Horn, who had agreed to come out of retirement, replacing Stackhouse, because NBA officials informed the Mavericks that if Stackhouse were to be included in the deal, he could not re-sign with the team if the Nets chose to buy out his contract. Antoine Wright was also added to the retooled trade proposal (the two teams originally agreed on a separate deal that would send Wright to the Mavericks for a 2008 second-round pick, but were ultimately able include him in the Kidd deal). On February 19, 2008, Kidd was officially traded to the Mavericks along with Allen and Wright for Van Horn (via a sign and trade deal), Harris, Diop, Hassell, Ager, $3 million, Ryan Anderson (the future 2008 first round pick), and the 2010 first round pick.

The Mavericks hoped that Kidd would provide leadership to the team that for years had been labelled as weak mentally and help Dallas and its franchise-player Dirk Nowitzki to win their first ever NBA championship. Although already a member of the Mavericks, Kidd started for the Eastern Conference in the 2008 NBA All-Star Game, as he had already been named as a starter prior to the trade. The Mavericks made a strong playoff push following the trade, but despite a 51–31 record, they were only able to secure the seventh seed in the highly competitive Western Conference. In the playoffs, they faced Chris Paul's New Orleans Hornets, and were eliminated in five games in the first round.

The following season saw Kidd and the Mavericks stumble out to a rocky start, but manage to finish the season strong and earn the sixth seed in the playoffs. The Mavericks faced off against the San Antonio Spurs in the first round, and managed to knock off the powerhouse Spurs in a surprising five game series. Kidd led Dallas in assists in all, but one game, to lead the Mavericks into the conference semi-finals for the first time since 2006. They would go on to lose to the Denver Nuggets in five games.

On July 5, 2009, Kidd verbally committed to re-signing with the Mavericks after being pursued heavily by the New York Knicks. The three-year deal reportedly was worth more than $25 million, all of it fully guaranteed. In the first year of Kidd's new contract in the 2009-10 season, the Mavericks went on to finish 2nd in the Western Conference with a 55-27 record during the regular season. However, the season ended with another disappointment as the Mavericks lost in six games to the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the 2010 NBA Playoffs. It was rumored that Kidd had gone through a flu just before the series began which might have affected his physical conditions. He did not speak to reporters after Games 5 and 6 and skipped the team's final meeting.

2010–2012: NBA championship[]

On Halloween of 2010 against the Clippers, Kidd sank a 75 foot shot at the halftime buzzer.

On November 12, 2010, Kidd dished out his 11,000th career assist, an alley-oop dunk to teammate Tyson Chandler.

Kidd won the NBA championship with Dallas in 2011, defeating NBA All-Stars LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and the Miami Heat who were heavy favorites. After appearing and losing in two different NBA Finals with the Nets, it was the first championship in his career. Despite a mid-season injury to Dirk Nowitzki, and a season-ending surgery to their starting Small Forward Caron Butler, the 2010–11 season turned out to be the best for the Mavs in Kidd's era as they finished the regular season with a 57–25 record. On February 4, Kidd hit a three-pointer with 2.5 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to give the Mavs a win in Boston over the Celtics, extending their winning streak to seven games.

Kidd sparked the Mavericks' impressive run with a total of 42 points in the first two playoff games against the Portland Trail Blazers. Dallas won the series 4–2. The Mavs then swept the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers, with Kidd successfully guarding Kobe Bryant in decisive moments of close games 1 and 3. In the Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Kidd was partly responsible for guarding young and athletic superstars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Kidd hit a tie-breaking three-pointer late in overtime in a Game 4 victory at Oklahoma City to give his team a 3–1 lead. Dallas defeated Oklahoma in five games. In the NBA Finals, the Mavericks defeated the Miami Heat in six games, despite trailing the Heat two games to one at one point. At various points, Kidd was called upon to defend superstars Dwyane Wade and LeBron James. Kidd averaged 9.3 points, 7.3 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game during the Mavericks' 21-game championship run. At 38 years of age, he became the oldest starting Point Guard ever to lead his team to the championship.

Shortened by a lockout the 2011–12 season turned out to be the last for Kidd in the Mavericks uniform. On February 20, 2012, Kidd collected his 2,515th career steal (passing Michael Jordan) making him second all-time in steals. Kidd averaging career lows in minutes, points and assists for the regular season and Mark Cuban's decision not to resign key members of the championship roster like Chandler, Caron Butler, and J.J. Barea strongly affected the Mavericks's 2011–12 season as the defending champions were swept by the eventual Western Conference champion Thunder in the first round of the playoffs.

New York Knicks (2012–2013)[]

Jason Kidd John Wall

Kidd as a Knick guarded by Washington's John Wall.

On July 12, 2012, Kidd signed with the New York Knicks. After making a verbal commitment to re-sign with the Mavericks, Kidd changed his mind and decided to sign a 3-year deal with the Knicks. Kidd was expected to act as a mentor to Jeremy Lin, but after Lin left to the Houston Rockets, it was assumed that Kidd would serve as a backup to Raymond Felton at the Point Guard position. During the preseason, however, the Knicks head coach Mike Woodson decided to start the season with both playmakers in the starting lineup and Kidd adjusting more to the shooting guard role.

On November 15, 2012, in a road win against the San Antonio Spurs, Kidd recorded 14 points, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks. With the new backcourt duo in the lineup, the Knicks opened the 2012–13 season with an 18–5 record while Kidd averaging 9.0 points per game on 44 percent three-point shooting in the first two months of the season. Nearly 40 years old, Kidd was asked to play almost 33 minutes per game in December. Notably, he made 3 three-pointers in the fourth quarter to help the Knicks overcome a 12 point fourth quarter deficit and propel them to a 104-100 victory. New York finished the season with 54 wins, an 18-game jump from the previous season. It was their first 50-win season since 1999–2000. The Knicks advanced to the second round of the playoffs, but lost to the Indiana Pacers in six games. Kidd struggled during the playoffs, when he was held without a field goal in his last 10 playoff games. It was believed that overworking Kidd during the regular season had strongly affected his performance in the second half of the season and left him burned out for the playoffs.

Kidd retired on June 3, 2013, after one season with the Knicks and 19 seasons in the NBA. His announcement came two days after 1995 co-Rookie of the Year Grant Hill retired.

Coaching career[]

Brooklyn Nets (2013–2014)[]

Jason Kidd Nets 2014

Kidd with the Nets in March 2014.

On June 12, 2013, Kidd was named head coach of the Brooklyn Nets, replacing interim coach P.J. Carlesimo. He is the third person since the ABA–NBA merger to debut as an NBA head coach the season after he retired as a player. In September 2013, Kidd bought a minority ownership stake in the team (from Jay Z). On September 9, 2013, the Nets announced via Twitter that they would be retiring Kidd's jersey (#5).

On October 17, 2013, the Nets retired and raised his number 5 jersey to the rafters before a preseason game against the two-time defending champion Miami Heat.

Kidd was suspended for the first two games of the season after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor DWI charge stemming from an incident in July of 2012. Joe Prunty served as acting head coach for the team's season opener in Cleveland and their home opener against Miami. He made his debut as head coach on November 3 in a 107–86 loss to the Orlando Magic. On November 5, Kidd had his first victory as head coach in a 104–88 win over the Utah Jazz. On November 28, Kidd was fined $50,000 by the NBA for appearing to instruct his player Tyshawn Taylor to bump into him and intentionally spill a cup of soda on the court in order to stop the game so his team could draw up a last-second offensive play against the Lakers in their game the previous night.

After a loss to the Chicago Bulls on Christmas Day, the Nets dropped to a disappointing 9–19 record. Many critics started to question Kidd's ability to manage a group of veterans that included Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Joe Johnson and there even appeared rumours that Kidd might be on his way out before the end of the season. However, the Nets were able to turn things around at the beginning of 2014 and finished the season with a 44–38 record, while Kidd began to get recognition for his coaching skills.

On February 3, 2014, Kidd was named the Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for January. On April 1, 2014, he was named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month a second time for March. He became the fourth coach overall to win both Player of the Month and Coach of the Month honors. He also became the second coach, after Jeff Hornacek of the Phoenix Suns, to win both honors with the same team.

In the first round of the playoffs, the Brooklyn Nets eliminated the Toronto Raptors in a 7–game series. Kidd is the 19th rookie head coach in the league's history to coach his team in a decisive Game 7 on the road, and became the first one to win it. In the semifinals, the Nets faced the Miami Heat and lost the series 4–1 despite sweeping the Heat in the regular season 4–0.

Milwaukee Bucks (2014–2018)[]

Jason Kidd (coach)

Kidd coaching the Bucks during Game 2 of the 2015 Playoffs against the Bulls.

On July 1, 2014, the Milwaukee Bucks secured Kidd's coaching rights from the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for two second-round draft picks in 2015 and 2019. The move did not come without controversy, as it was reported that Kidd had been seeking more management power over the Nets' general manager Billy King and after being denied began talks with the Bucks even though they still had a coach under contract in Larry Drew. He later stated that he felt the Nets truly did not want him nor were they committed to building a contender. In his return to Brooklyn on November 19, 2014, he was greeted with heavy boos and jeers.

The Bucks were one of the biggest surprises of the 2014–15 season. Under Kidd's guidance the young team improved from franchise-worst 15 wins in the previous season, finishing with a 41–41 record to advance to the playoffs as the 6th seed in the Eastern Conference. Milwaukee achieved that feat despite losing their 2nd draft pick overall Jabari Parker in December to a knee injury and trading star guard Brandon Knight to the Phoenix Suns in February. Kidd is the first coach in NBA history to lead two franchises to the playoffs in his first two years as a head coach. Kidd finished third in voting for the Coach of the Year Award behind Mike Budenholzer and Steve Kerr.

Matthew Dellavedova Jason Kidd

Kidd giving instructions to Matthew Dellavedova during his tenure as Bucks coach.

The 2015–16 season was the less successful for Kidd, as the Bucks finished with a 33–49 record and did not qualify to the playoffs. On December 20, 2015 it was reported that Kidd would be out indefinitely as he would undergo hip surgery on December 21. While Kidd was recovering, his assistant Joe Prunty was acting as an interim coach.[64] On a positive note, Kidd moved rising 21-year old Giannis Antetokounmpo into a point guard position, which helped the young player to record five triple doubles in the season and make progress in most statistical categories. Despite the disappointing season, the Bucks owners issued Kidd a vote of confidence and mentioned a possible prolongation of his contract expiring after the next season.

The following season Kidd led the Bucks to a winning record as they qualified to the playoffs for the second time in three years. Kidd had his projected starting unit available for just several minutes during the season. On February 9, the same day the Shooting Guard Khris Middleton was making his season debut after recovering from a hamstring injury, the Power Forward Jabari Parker went down with an ACL injury. Despite the setback, Kidd had the Bucks finishing the season strong with a 42–40 record. In the first round of the playoffs against the Toronto Raptors, the Bucks took a 2–1 lead after game 3, but went on to lose the series in six games. On January 22, 2018, the Bucks fired Kidd after the team posted a 23–22 record midway through the 2017–18 season.

Los Angeles Lakers (2019–2021)[]

On July 31, 2019, Kidd was hired as an assistant coach by the Los Angeles Lakers. Kidd would go on to win his second NBA championship when the Lakers defeated the Miami Heat (the same team his Dallas won against in 2011 and also in six games) in six games in the 2020 Finals. It was his first championship as an assistant coach.

Dallas Mavericks (2021–present)[]

On June 25, 2021, Kidd was hired as head coach of his former team the Dallas Mavericks. During the 2021–22 season, Kidd helped lead the Mavericks to a regular season record of 52–30, which earned them the fourth seed in the Western Conference standings. This was the Mavericks' highest win total since the 2014–15 season when they finished 50–32, and their highest standings finish since the 2010–11 season, when Kidd was a player for the Mavericks team that finished as the third seed. In his first season as head coach, Kidd oversaw a defensive renaissance in Dallas, transforming a team that was among the worst defenses in the league prior to his tenure, into one of the top units in the NBA. Under Kidd, the Mavericks won their first two playoff series since their 2011 NBA championship when they defeated the Utah Jazz in six games in the first round of the playoffs and the top-seeded Phoenix Suns in seven games in the second round, advancing to the Western Conference Finals. Kidd, along with Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison has been credited with improving the organizational culture and creating an environment more favorable to players than was present under former coach Rick Carlisle. Dallas' run was halted in the Western Conference Finals as they fell short to the Golden State Warriors in five games.

NBA milestones[]

  • The only player in NBA history to record at least 15,000 points, 7,000 rebounds, and 10,000 assists in his playing career.
  • In the 2002 Eastern Conference Finals vs. the Boston Celtics, Kidd averaged 17.5 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 10.2 assists per game, becoming one of only two players in NBA history to average a triple-double in a playoff series of six or more games (the other is Magic Johnson). Kidd did it again in the 2007 Eastern Conference First Round vs. the Toronto Raptors, averaging 14.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 13.2 assists per game.
  • One of only five players in NBA history to lead the league in assist-per-game average for 3 consecutive seasons (the others are Bob Cousy, Oscar Robertson, John Stockton, and Steve Nash).
  • Holds New Jersey Nets franchise records for career 3-pointers (729), career assists (4,090), assists in a season (808), steals (876), triple-doubles (49), and triple-doubles in a season (12, 2006-2007).
  • One of five players to average a triple-double for a playoff series, joining Magic Johnson, Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, and Fat Lever.
  • One of only three players (Fat Lever, Wilt Chamberlain) in NBA history to post at least 15 points, 15 rebounds, and 15 assists in a playoff game.
  • One of three players to average a triple-double for multiple playoff series, joining Magic Johnson and Wilt Chamberlain.

Second player in NBA history to average a triple-double for an entire postseason. Kidd finished with averages of 14.6 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 10.9 assists in 12 games during the 2007 NBA Playoffs.

  • Joined Oscar Robertson who averaged 28.8 points, 11.0 assists, and 11.0 rebounds in 4 games in a 3-1 first-round loss in 1962.
  • The first player in 10 years to record a triple-double for 3 consecutive games with 13 points, 12 assists, and 11 rebounds on 1/08/2008.
  • One of three players to have 15,000 points and 10,000 assists for a career.
  • One of only three players to accumulate more than 700 assists and 500 rebounds in one season. Magic Johnson, Oscar Robertson and Jason Kidd have each done this 6 times.
  • Fourth player in NBA history to record 10,000+ assists.
  • In Game 3 of the second round of the 2007 Playoffs, Kidd recorded his 11th postseason triple-double breaking a tie with Larry Bird for second place on the All-Time career list for postseason triple-doubles.
  • On April 16, 2008, Kidd recorded his 100th career triple-double in the final regular season game with the Dallas Mavericks that year against the New Orleans Hornets.
  • In the 2008–09 season, Kidd became just the fourth player in NBA history to reach the 10,000 assist milestone and is now the only player in NBA history with 15,000 points, 10,000 assists and 7,000 rebounds.
  • Kidd is tied for the most turnovers in a game. He committed 14 turnovers against the New York Knicks on November 17, 2000, while playing for the Phoenix Suns. Kidd tied John Drew, who also turned the ball over 14 times in a game on March 1, 1978.
  • On April 5, 2009, Kidd passed Magic Johnson for third on the all-time assist list in a 140–116 victory over the Phoenix Suns. Kidd scored 19 points to go with a season high 20 assists, giving him a total of 10,142 career assists.
  • On November 26, 2009, Kidd moved into 2nd place on the all-time assists list in a win against the Houston Rockets, surpassing Mark Jackson on the list.
  • On November 12, 2010, Kidd dished out his 11,000th career assist on an alley-oop dunk to teammate Tyson Chandler.
  • On January 12, 2011, Kidd hit his 1,720th three-point field goal, passing Dale Ellis for third place on the NBA career three-pointers made list.
  • On February 20, 2012, Kidd collected his 2,515th career steal (passing Michael Jordan) for second all-time in steals behind only John Stockton.
  • On February 8, 2013, Kidd broke the 12,000 career assist mark as a New York Knick vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He reached 12,000 on a pass to J.R. Smith for a three-pointer. The Knicks eventually won that game 100–94.
  • In 2013, Kidd became the first player to win back-to-back NBA Sportsmanship Awards.

National team career[]

Kobe Bryant in 2008

Kidd (third from left) with U.S. President George W. Bush, Kobe Bryant, and Deron Williams at the 2008 Olympics.

Kidd's first participation in USA basketball came after his first season at University of California, Berkeley. He was the only freshman chosen to take part in Team USA's 10-member team. The team played five games in Europe and finished with a record of 3-2. Kidd tied for team highs in assists per game with 4.0, and steals per game with 1.4. He also had averages of 8.4 points per game, and 4.2 rebounds per game.

Kidd's next stint with USA basketball came in 1999 where he participated in the USA Olympic Qualifying Tournament. The team finished with an undefeated record of 10-0 resulting in a gold medal and earning a berth at the 2000 Olympics. Kidd averaged 7.4 ppg, 6.8 apg, 4.4 rpg, 2.7 spg, and again led the team in apg and spg.

In 2000, Kidd was appointed as one of Team USA's tri-captains for the 2000 Olympics at Sydney, Australia. Kidd again led the team to an undefeated record of 8-0 which resulted in team USA winning the gold medal at the Olympic games. Kidd had averages of 6.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg, and had team highs of 4.4 apg, and 1.1 spg. Kidd also had a FG% of 51.6 and shot 50% from 3-point range.

In November 2002, Kidd was selected to participate in the 2002 USA Basketball Men's World Championship Team. However, he had to withdraw from the team due to an injury.

Kidd came back the next year and participated at the 2003 FIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Puerto Rico. Kidd again led the team to a record of 10-0, bringing home the gold medal and a berth at the 2004 Olympics. Kidd started all 10 games and had averages of 3.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 5.9 apg, and 1.2 spg.

However, Kidd again had to withdraw from the 2004 Olympic team due to another injury.

In 2007, Kidd participated in the FIBA Americas Championship 2007. Kidd helped the team to a 10-0 record where he brought home another gold medal and a berth at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. Kidd had averages of 1.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 4.6 apg, and 1.3 spg. He also shot 60% from the field and 62.5% from 3-point. Kidd led the entire tournament with assist-to-turnover ratio of 9.20. With Kidd's help team USA averaged 116.7 ppg, and defeated their opponents by a margin of 39.5 ppg.

In 2008, Kidd participated in the 2008 Olympics where the team yet again went undefeated in winning their first gold medal since the 2000 Olympics. The team, given the "Redeem team" moniker because of failures in the 2002 FIBA World Championship and 2004 Summer Olympics, were once again crowned to be the best team in world basketball.

Kidd has an impressive resume in USA basketball. In his professional career, he has an undefeated record of 56-0 including exhibition games. He has brought home five gold medals: three from Olympic qualifying tournaments, one from the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and one from the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Player profile[]

J-Kidd

Kidd shooting a jump shot in 2009.

Kidd retired second all-time in NBA history in both assists and steals behind John Stockton. He led the NBA in assists five times. His 107 career triple-doubles are fourth all-time, trailing Russell Westbrook, and Hall of Famers Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson. Kidd finished his career with averages of 12.6 points, 8.7 assists, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.9 steals in 1,391 regular season games. He impacted games with his accurate passes and by involving his teammates; scoring was not his focus. He is considered by many to be one of the best rebounding guards ever to play in the league, and ESPN called him "one of the best passing and rebounding point guards in NBA history."

Although Kidd was considered a poor outside shooter when he began his pro career, he retired ranked third all-time in the NBA in three-point field goals made. The New York Times called his improvement as a shooter "perhaps Kidd's biggest, and most surprising, transformation". He considered his NBA championship with Dallas and his two gold medals in the Olympics as tied for the top highlights of his career, followed by the co-Rookie of the Year he shared with Grant Hill.

Personal life[]

Kidd married his first wife, Joumana, in 1997. In January 2001, Jason Kidd was arrested and pleaded guilty to a domestic abuse charge for assaulting his wife Joumana in anger. As part of his plea, Kidd was ordered to attend anger management classes for six months. Kidd completed the mandatory counseling and continued to attend on his own and it was reported that Kidd has since given up alcohol. He and his wife were both active in their church and were thought to have completely reconciled. The incident, however, would be considered a catalyst for the Suns to trade Kidd to the Nets that year. On January 9, 2007, Kidd filed for divorce against his wife, citing "extreme cruelty" during their relationship. Kidd contended intense jealousy, paranoia, and the threat of "false domestic abuse claims" to the police as reasons for the divorce. On February 15, 2007, Joumana Kidd filed a counterclaim for divorce, claiming that the NBA star — among countless instances of abuse — "broke her rib and damaged her hearing by smashing her head into the console of a car". The couple has three children (Trey Jason (T.J.), and twins Miah and Jazelle).

On January 10, 2008, news broke that Kidd and his girlfriend, model Hope Dworaczyk, were expecting a child together.

On September 10, 2011, Kidd married Porschla Coleman, a former model. They have two children.

On July 15, 2012, Kidd was arrested by Southampton Town Police and charged with a misdemeanor of driving while intoxicated. According to police, around 2 a.m. Kidd's vehicle struck a telephone pole and ended up in the woods a few blocks away from his home, and he was determined to be under the influence by officers.

NBA career statistics[]

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high
Denotes seasons in which Kidd won an NBA championship
Led the league

Regular season[]

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1994–95 Dallas 79 79 33.8 .385 .272 .698 5.4 7.7 1.9 .3 11.7
1995–96 Dallas 81 81 37.5 .381 .336 .692 6.8 9.7 2.2 .3 16.6
1996–97 Dallas 22 22 36.0 .369 .323 .667 4.1 9.1 2.0 .4 9.9
1996–97 Phoenix 33 23 35.5 .423 .400 .688 4.8 9.0 2.4 .4 11.6
1997–98 Phoenix 82* 82* 38.0 .416 .313 .799 6.2 9.1 2.0 .3 11.6
1998–99 Phoenix 50* 50* 41.2 .444 .366 .757 6.8 10.8* 2.3 .4 16.9
1999–00 Phoenix 67 67 39.0 .409 .337 .829 7.2 10.1* 2.0 .4 14.3
2000–01 Phoenix 77 76 39.8 .411 .297 .814 6.4 9.8* 2.2 .3 16.9
2001–02 New Jersey 82 82 37.3 .391 .321 .814 7.3 9.9 2.1 .2 14.7
2002–03 New Jersey 80 80 37.4 .414 .341 .841 6.3 8.9* 2.2 .3 18.7
2003–04 New Jersey 67 66 36.6 .384 .321 .827 6.4 9.2* 1.8 .2 15.5
2004–05 New Jersey 66 65 36.9 .398 .360 .740 7.4 8.3 1.9 .1 14.4
2005–06 New Jersey 80 80 37.2 .404 .352 .795 7.3 8.4 1.9 .4 13.3
2006–07 New Jersey 80 80 36.7 .406 .343 .778 8.2 9.2 1.6 .3 13.0
2007–08 New Jersey 51 51 37.2 .366 .356 .820 8.1 10.4 1.5 .3 11.3
2007–08 Dallas 29 29 34.9 .426 .461 .815 6.5 9.5 2.1 .4 9.9
2008–09 Dallas 81 81 35.6 .416 .406 .819 6.2 8.7 2.0 .5 9.0
2009–10 Dallas 80 80 36.0 .423 .425 .808 5.6 9.1 1.8 .4 10.3
2010–11 Dallas 80 80 33.2 .361 .340 .870 4.4 8.2 1.7 .4 7.9
2011–12 Dallas 48 48 28.7 .363 .354 .786 4.1 5.5 1.7 .2 6.2
2012–13 New York 76 48 26.9 .372 .351 .833 4.3 3.3 1.6 .3 6.0
Career 1,391 1,350 36.0 .400 .349 .785 6.3 8.7 1.9 .3 12.6
All-Star 9 5 23.2 .525 .478 .833 3.4 7.7 2.7 .0 6.4

Playoffs[]

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1997 Phoenix 5 5 41.4 .396 .364 .526 6.0 9.8 2.2 .4 12.0
1998 Phoenix 4 4 42.8 .379 .000 .813 5.8 7.8 4.0 .5 14.3
1999 Phoenix 3 3 42.0 .419 .250 .714 2.3 10.3 1.7 .3 15.0
2000 Phoenix 6 6 38.2 .400 .364 .778 6.7 8.8 1.8 .2 9.8
2001 Phoenix 4 4 41.5 .319 .235 .750 6.0 13.3 2.0 .0 14.3
2002 New Jersey 20 20 40.2 .415 .189 .808 8.2 9.1 1.7 .4 19.6
2003 New Jersey 20 20 42.6 .402 .327 .825 7.7 8.2 1.8 .2 20.1
2004 New Jersey 11 11 43.1 .333 .208 .811 6.6 9.0 2.3 .5 12.6
2005 New Jersey 4 4 45.5 .388 .367 .545 9.0 7.3 2.5 .0 17.3
2006 New Jersey 11 11 40.9 .371 .300 .826 7.6 9.6 1.5 .2 12.0
2007 New Jersey 12 12 40.3 .432 .420 .520 10.9 10.9 1.8 .4 14.6
2008 Dallas 5 5 36.0 .421 .462 .625 6.4 6.8 1.4 .4 8.6
2009 Dallas 10 10 38.6 .458 .447 .850 5.8 5.9 2.2 .3 11.4
2010 Dallas 6 6 40.5 .304 .321 .917 6.8 7.0 2.3 .2 8.0
2011 Dallas 21 21 35.4 .398 .374 .800 4.5 7.3 1.9 .5 9.3
2012 Dallas 4 4 36.0 .341 .346 .900 6.0 6.0 3.0 .3 11.5
2013 New York 12 0 20.6 .120 .176 1.000 3.5 2.0 1.0 .3 .9
Career 158 146 38.5 .391 .322 .781 6.7 8.0 1.9 .3 12.9

College[]

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1992–93 California 29 31.8 .463 .286 .657 4.9 7.7 3.8 .3 13.0
1993–94 California 30 35.1 .472 .362 .692 6.9 9.1 3.1 .3 16.7
Career 59 33.5 .468 .333 .677 5.9 8.4 3.5 .3 14.9

NBA highlights[]

NBA history[]

  • Ranks 2nd in playoffs triple-doubles (11, as of March 30, 2009)
  • Ranks 3rd in regular season triple-doubles (102, as of March 13, 2009)
  • Ranks 3rd in assists(10,187, as of April 13, 2009)
  • Ranks 4th in guard rebounds (7,398, as of April 13, 2009)
  • Ranks 6th in assist-per-game average (9.2, as of April 5, 2009)
  • Ranks 7th in steals (2,198, as of April 13, 2009)
  • Ranks 9th in 3-pointers made (1,483, as of April 13, 2009)
  • Ranks 14th in steal-per-game average (1.99, as of April 13, 2009)

Others[]

Gallery[]

Notes[]

^ Mavs clinch No. 7 seed, matchup against Hornets with win, accessed April 16, 2008 ^ a b c espn.com, Nets control boards this time around, take Game 3 from Cavs, accessed July 12, 2007. ^ Jason Kidd career statistics, ESPN.com ^ NBA Assists: Per Game (2002-03) ^ Johnson to replace Kidd in All-Star Game ^ nba.com, Raptors at Nets: Boxscore, accessed April 27, 2007. ^ a b nba.com, Kidd ties Larry Bird, accessed April 27, 2007. ^ a b espn.com, Jefferson's late go-ahead sends Nets to second round, accessed May 4, 2007. ^ nba.com, Jason Kidd Info Page, accessed May 19, 2007. ^ a b nba.com, Cavaliers Eliminate Nets With Game 6 Win, accessed May 19, 2007. ^ espn.com, Bobcats shoot way past Kidd's third consecutive triple-double, accessed January 8, 2008. Kidd was voted by the fans to start in the 2008 All-Star game in New Orleans as a guard along with Dwyane Wade. ^ NBA.com - Nets Trade Jason Kidd to Mavericks in Eight-Player Deal ^ Mavs forward George blocks trade of Kidd to Mavs ^ Devean George Blocks Jason Kidd Trade ^ Reports: Mavs, Nets retool Kidd deal ^ Nets (finally) send Kidd to Mavs in eight-player deal ^ Kidd trade to Mavs will cost Dallas $11 million more than original deal ^ US hoops back on top, beats Spain for gold medal ^ USA Basketball ^ Wife: Jason Kidd A Serial Abuser, Adulterer ^ Kidd files for divorce from wife Joumana of 10 years, retrieved 10 Jan 2007 ^ Kidd On The Way ^ ESPN - New Orleans vs. New Jersey Recap, February 21, 2007 ^ NBA.com : Jason Kidd Career Stats Page ^ ESPN - Elias Says ... - ESPN

External links[]


1994 NBA Draft
First Round Glenn Robinson · Jason Kidd · Grant Hill · Donyell Marshall · Juwan Howard · Sharone Wright · Lamond Murray · Brian Grant · Eric Montross · Eddie Jones · Carlos Rogers · Khalid Reeves
Jalen Rose · Yinka Dare · Eric Piatkowski · Clifford Rozier · Aaron McKie · Eric Mobley · Tony Dumas · B. J. Tyler · Dickey Simpkins · Bill Curley · Wesley Person · Monty Williams · Greg Minor
Charlie Ward · Brooks Thompson
Second Round Deon Thomas · Antonio Lang · Howard Eisley · Rodney Dent · Jim McIlvaine · Derrick Alston · Gaylon Nickerson · Michael Smith · Andrei Fetisov · Dontonio Wingfield · Darrin Hancock
Anthony Miller · Jeff Webster · William Njoku · Gary Collier · Shawnelle Scott · Damon Bailey · Dwayne Morton · Voshon Lenard · Jamie Watson · Jevon Crudup · Kris Bruton · Charles Claxton
Lawrence Funderburke · Anthony Goldwire · Albert Burditt · Željko Rebrača
Brooklyn Nets head coaches (by year)
1960's Max Zaslofsky (1967-1969) • York Larese (1969-1970)
1970's Lou Carnesecca (1970-1973) • Kevin Loughery (1973-1980)
1980's Bob MacKinnon (1980-1981) • Larry Brown (1981-1983) • Bill Blair (1983) • Steve Albeck (1983-1985)• Dave Wohl (1985-1987) • Bob MacKinnon (1987-1988) • Willis Reed (1988-1989)
1990's Bill Fitch (1989-1992) • Chuck Daly (1992-1994) • Butch Beard (1994-1996) • John Calipari (1996-1999) • Don Casey (1999-2000)
2000's Byron Scott (2000-2004 Lawrence Frank (2004-2009) • Tom Barrise (2009) • Kiki Vandeweghe (2009-2010)
2010's Avery Johnson (2010-2012) • P.J. Carlesimo (2012-2013) • Jason Kidd (2013-present)


New York Knicks 2012–13 season roster
1 Amar'e Stoudemire
2 Raymond Felton
3 Kenyon Martin
4 James White
5 Jason Kidd
6 Tyson Chandler
7 Carmelo Anthony
8 J.R. Smith
9 Pablo Prigioni
14 Chris Copeland
16 Steve Novak
21 Iman Shumpert
45 Marcus Camby
55 Quentin Richardson
Head coach: Mike Woodson
Regular season
Playoffs
Finals
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