NBA Update: Retirement not on Jason Kidd’s mind yet
Jason Kidd has had quite a career. Drafted by the Dallas Mavericks back in 1994, the veteran point guard has gone on to achieve great success with the Phoenix Suns and especially the New Jersey Nets, where he led the team to two
consecutive NBA Finals appearances. Now, in the twilight of his long and exemplary career, Kidd is back where it all started for him, Dallas.
With a third NBA Finals appearance looming large, the seasoned pro recently sat down with reporters to discuss the Finals, his recent performances and retirement. However, Kidd did not seem too keen on that last bit and after the
playoffs run he has had, who can blame him.
Jason Kidd has rolled back the years to provide the steady hand that’s guided the Mavs into the NBA Finals. Kidd is key to this Dallas team as he sprays the ball around, finds open teammates and even shoots whenever required to.
It is his sharp passing skills that are bringing the best out of a Mavericks team, full of sharp shooters like Jason Terry, Dirk Nowitzki and Peja Stojakovic.
His size, versatility and experience mean that Jason Kidd is a formidable defender and he has ably filled the hole left by Caron Butler’s injury induced absence, at least on the defensive end. His defensive acumen came to the fore
in the series against the Los Angeles Lakers where Jason Kidd regularly suffocated Kobe Bryant down the stretch as the Mavericks won 4 – 0.
With so much going for him, Kidd doesn’t feel the need to retire anytime soon,
“I would love to continue to keep playing if I feel the way I do now,” Kidd said. “I feel great.”
Jason Kidd is one of the best point guards in the history of the game and a future Hall of Famer. Kidd is one of only two players to average a triple double the entire season. The only other was the legendary Oscar Robertson. He
is third overall in the NBA for career triple doubles behind Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson.
His amazing playmaking ability has seen him become the second highest assist maker ever in the league with around 11,007 to his name so far.
It is that sort of experience that makes him such a valuable commodity to the Mavericks and indeed to the NBA. And Kidd says he wants to give back to the league that has given him so much. Playing on is a way to do that and he
hopes he can pass on his knowledge about the game to a younger player before he finally does say good bye,
“I know I’m not going to be playing 35 minutes a night, so I still have a lot to give back to the game and hopefully a younger point guard I can help develop and share my notes with him and make him a better player,” Kidd said.
“So, I still have a lot left to give to the game.”
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