Watch out, NBA coaches. There is a new “Kidd” in town (sorry folks, had to do it).
After much speculation and anticipation about who the Nets would pick between the recently-retired Jason Kidd and coveted long-time assistant Brian Shaw, news broke on Wednesday that the sure-fire Hall of Famer will be on the sidelines for the team as the new head coach next season. Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today has details:
Jason Kidd jumped from playing to coaching in less than two weeks.
The Brooklyn Nets named Kidd their new coach on Wednesday in a rare and speedy transition from uniform to suit.
“This is a tremendous opportunity to be named head coach of the Brooklyn Nets, and it’s a role I have been studying for over the course of my playing days,” Kidd said in a news release. “Championship teams are built on being prepared, playing unselfishly and being held accountable, and that’s how I expect to coach this basketball team. I am truly excited about this next phase of my basketball career.”
Players around the league appeared to be genuinely happy for Kidd, and showed their overwhelmingly-positive support of the big news:
Excited to get to work under our new head coach @realjasonkidd great leader and great basketball mind will be a great head coach #BROOKLYN
— Deron Williams (@DeronWilliams) June 13, 2013
My hat goes off to the Nets Ownership and GM Billy King for giving Jason Kidd the opportunity to coach their franchise. — Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) June 13, 2013
Congrats to my man @realjasonkidd on getting that coaching job. He going be a great coach. — James White (@Flight8) June 13, 2013
Congrats to Jason Kidd on his new head coaching job…hes a great leader that is going to do unbelievable things in Brooklyn — Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) June 13, 2013
Congrats to J kidd! — Kris Humphries (@KrisHumphries) June 13, 2013
@realjasonkidd St. Joe’s/Cal/NBA/USA: congrats to Bay Area’s finest on the newest opportunity in Brooklyn — Brent Barry (@Barryathree) June 13, 2013
And congrats to one of my fav players ever @realjasonkidd on his head coaching job! #iLoveThisGame and everything he did for it. — Iman Shumpert (@I_Am_Iman) June 13, 2013
Shout Out To @therealjasonkidd For Getting The Head Coaching Job Of The Nets.. Will Do An Amazing Job.. #HoldDat — Carlos Boozer (@MisterCBooz) June 13, 2013
Wow, JKidd the Nets head coach, great move, so happy for Jkidd — Charlie Villanueva (@CV31) June 13, 2013
3 great coaches come to mind who were head coaches with no coaching experience prior….. Larry Bird, Doc Rivers, and Mark Jackson — Dahntay (@dahntay1) June 13, 2013
Congrats @realjasonkidd, the Nets are lucky to have you. I’m gonna hate seeing you on the other side. #knickstape — Raymond Felton (@RFeltonGBMS) June 13, 2013
Congrats to JKidd on the new job.. #smoothtransition
— Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) June 13, 2013