At this very moment, is Jason Kidd a better basketball player or basketball coach?
I’ll let you write your own punch line.
The first-year Nets coach, who has both improved as the season progressed and stumbled into a small-ball lineup that works for his team, hasn’t stopped playing.
Not completely, at least.
Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News:Don’t let the tight suit fool you: Jason Kidd can still ball and still has those juices flowing.
During another disappointing and injury-riddled season for Deron Williams, Kidd stepped on the court and went head-to-head with the point guard in a spirited exchange at a recent practice, a source told the Daily News.
That’s one way to get through to the underachieving star: challenge him with Hall of Fame skills.
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I’d love to know how that matchup went, but if the Nets have done one thing right this season, it’s keeping the result a secret. If Kidd outplayed Williams, that makes Williams look terrible and furthers the notion Kidd hasn’t transitioned from player to coach.
Not speaking to Williams specifically, I don’t suspect most NBA stars will get motivated by playing their coach in practice. But, hey, maybe this gets Williams going. If it does, Kidd’s stock should soar. For all his other foibles, Kidd is the only active NBA coach with even a chance of competing with his players on the court.
