Jason Kidd is officially retiring from the NBA after 19 seasons.He is the only player in NBA history with more than 15,000 points, 10,000 assists and 7,000 rebounds. He is a sure-fire Hall-Of-Famer and top-10 point guard of all-time.
The former Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns, New Jersey Nets and New York Knicks veteran had a fantastic career, racking up multiple awards.
These awards include being a 10-time All-Star, NBA Co-Rookie of the Year (1995), five-time All-NBA First Team
, All-NBA Second Team, four-time NBA All-Defensive First Team, five-time All NBA-Defensive Second Team, NBA All-Rookie First Team, five-time NBA assists leader, two-time NBA Sportsmanship Award and NBA champion (2011).As a Nets fan my entire life, I had the pleasure of watching Kidd play on a night-to-night basis from 2001-08, which was the most successful stretch in the franchise's history. Kidd was the catalyst for those teams, and was the original part of the first “Big 3” that I can remember (Kidd, Vince Carter, Richard Jefferson).
He was my favorite player growing up, and it’s sad to see him hang up his shoes. Kidd was so much fun to watch, whether he was throwing alley-oops to Carter or he was throwing it off the backboard to Kenyon Martin for the slam, he always seemed to make the perfect pass.
Even though his career ended on a major downfall with the Knicks this season, people cannot over look what Kidd has accomplished throughout his career. He rejuvenated a dead New Jersey Nets franchise, he helped the Mavericks win an NBA title and he provided valuable leadership to this year’s Knicks team that won the Atlantic Division for the first time in 13 years.
Kidd’s career numbers are 12.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 8.7 assists per game.
You will be missed, Jason Kidd.
