Jason Kidd (Part 3)

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17 Mar 2024

Jason Kidd (Part 3)

On June 28, 2001, Jason Kidd's career took a pivotal turn as he was traded from the Phoenix Suns to the New Jersey Nets, along with Chris Dudley, in exchange for Stephon Marbury, Johnny Newman, and Soumaila Samake. Joining the Nets, Kidd found himself amidst a reinvigorated franchise, surrounded by a blend of seasoned veterans and promising young talents. Sophomore Kenyon Martin, alongside veterans Kerry Kittles and Keith Van Horn, provided a strong foundation, while rookies Richard Jefferson, Jason Collins, and Brandon Armstrong injected youthful energy into the team.
The 2001–02 season marked a dramatic turnaround for the Nets, with Kidd at the helm. Guiding the team with his exceptional leadership and playmaking abilities, Kidd led the Nets to a remarkable 52–30 finish, a staggering 26-game improvement from the previous season and the franchise's first-ever 50-win campaign. His impact was felt across the league as he earned a spot on the All-NBA First Team and finished second in MVP voting, narrowly missing out on the prestigious award to Tim Duncan.

Under Kidd's masterful direction, the Nets embarked on a memorable playoff journey, culminating in the franchise's maiden appearance in the NBA Finals. Along the way, they overcame formidable challenges, including a thrilling double-overtime victory against the Indiana Pacers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals, where Kidd's clutch performance propelled the Nets to victory. Despite a valiant effort, the Nets were ultimately swept by the star-studded Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals.
The following season, Kidd continued to shine, leading the Nets to another successful campaign. With his scoring prowess reaching new heights and his playmaking skills unparalleled, Kidd propelled the Nets to their second consecutive NBA Finals appearance. However, despite their resilience, the Nets fell short against Tim Duncan's San Antonio Spurs in a hard-fought six-game series, highlighting Kidd's indelible impact on the team's success during his tenure in New Jersey.

In the 2003 offseason, there were speculations surrounding Jason Kidd's potential move to the San Antonio Spurs, where he would replace Tony Parker as their starting point guard. Parker, at the time, was perceived to have limitations in his game that Kidd did not. However, Kidd decided to remain with the Nets, signing a lucrative 6-year, $99 million deal. During the 2003–04 season, Kidd continued to showcase his elite skills, averaging 15.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 9.2 assists per game, leading the league in assists for the second consecutive year. Despite Kidd's stellar performances, the Nets finished the season with a 47–35 record. In the playoffs, they faced a tough challenge from the Detroit Pistons in the conference semifinals, ultimately losing in a seven-game series. Kidd notably played through a serious knee injury and went scoreless in the decisive Game 7.

Following the 2003–04 season, Kidd underwent microfracture surgery on his damaged knee on July 1, 2004. Remarkably, he made a full recovery and returned to the court in December for the 2004–05 season. The Nets made a significant addition to their roster by acquiring star swingman Vince Carter from the Toronto Raptors. Despite facing challenges, including injuries to key players like Richard Jefferson, Kidd and Carter led the Nets to secure the eighth and final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference. However, their playoff run was short-lived as they were eliminated in four games by the top-seeded Miami Heat in the first round.
In the 2005–06 season, Kidd maintained his high level of play, averaging 13.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 8.4 assists per game. Alongside Carter, Kidd propelled the Nets to a third-place finish in the East with a 49–33 record, clinching their fourth Atlantic Division title in five seasons. The Nets also had an impressive winning streak in April, but it was halted by the Cleveland Cavaliers after 14 consecutive victories. Kidd's defensive prowess earned him a spot on the NBA All-Defensive First Team for the fourth time in his career. Despite their regular season success, the Nets were once again eliminated by the Miami Heat, this time in the conference semifinals, as the Heat went on to become the eventual champions.

On February 13, 2008, the Dallas Mavericks and New Jersey Nets initially agreed on a trade to send Jason Kidd and Malik Allen to Dallas in exchange for Devin Harris, Devean George, Jerry Stackhouse, DeSagana Diop, Maurice Ager, two first-round draft picks (in 2008 and 2010), and $3 million. However, the trade fell through when George invoked his (Early) Bird rights as stipulated in his contract at the time. The trade was later restructured, with Trenton Hassell replacing George and Keith Van Horn replacing Stackhouse, who agreed to come out of retirement. Antoine Wright was also included in the revised trade proposal. On February 19, 2008, Kidd, Allen, and Wright were finally traded to the Mavericks for Van Horn (via a sign-and-trade deal), Harris, Diop, Hassell, Ager, $3 million, and first-round picks in 2008 and 2010.

The Mavericks aimed to benefit from Kidd's leadership and experience, hoping to bolster their chances of winning their first NBA championship, particularly alongside franchise player Dirk Nowitzki. Despite a strong push following the trade, the Mavericks secured only the seventh seed in the Western Conference with a 51–31 record. In the playoffs, they faced the New Orleans Hornets led by Chris Paul and were eliminated in five games in the first round.
The 2008–09 season started on a shaky note for Kidd and the Mavericks, losing eight of their first 15 games. However, they finished the season strong, earning the sixth seed in the playoffs with a 50–32 record. Kidd ranked third in the league in steals with an average of 2.0 per game, his best average in six years. In the playoffs, the Mavericks upset the San Antonio Spurs in the first round, with Kidd leading the team in assists in all but one game. They reached the conference semifinals for the first time since 2006 but were defeated by the Denver Nuggets in five games.

On July 5, 2009, Kidd verbally committed to re-signing with the Mavericks, turning down the New York Knicks' pursuit. He signed a three-year deal worth more than $25 million, fully guaranteed. In the 2009–10 season, the Mavericks finished second in the Western Conference with a 55–27 record. However, their playoff journey ended in disappointment as they lost in six games to the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the playoffs. Rumors circulated that Kidd had been dealing with flu-like symptoms before the series, possibly affecting his performance. He notably did not speak to reporters after Games 5 and 6 and skipped the team's final meeting.