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Jason Kidd signs as new head coach of Brooklyn Nets

June 13, 2013 Heather Chin

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Just-retired former New York Knicks star Jason Kidd has crossed the Hudson to join the Brooklyn Nets as their new head coach, replacing P. J. Carlesimo, who was dropped after himself replacing Avery Johnson earlier this year.

The veteran ball player and Hall of Famer does not have any coaching experience, but convinced Nets general manager Billy King and Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov that his 19 years on the basketball court, history with the Nets, and existing relationships with key players would be to everyone’s benefit.

Kidd spent 6.5 years with the then-New Jersey Nets, leading them to the NBA finals in 2002 and 2003.

“Later in my career, I was trying to set myself up for later being in the position to become a coach,” said Kidd. “Hopefully I can rely on the experience I’ve had as a player, and also my staff.”

Prokhorov welcomed Kidd “home,” stating that he “has the fire in the belly we need, and has achieved as a player everything the Brooklyn Nets are striving to achieve. We believe he will lead us there.”

King added that Kidd “is a proven winner and leader with an incredible wealth of basketball knowledge and experience [that will enable] a natural transition for him to move into the role of head coach, as he embodies the tough, smart and team-first mentality that we are trying to establish in Brooklyn.”

ESPN reported that sources claim that also helping his case was that unlike other coaching candidate Brian Shaw, Kidd has a friendship with Nets point guard Deron Williams, and will able to utilize that “big brother” relationship to channel Williams’ energies into playing his best.

In addition, Kidd allegedly impressed Nets decision-makers with his ideas for how to tackle the Nets offense, drawing up plays and explaining his over-arching philosophy.

Kidd will also have former Nets and Detroit Pistons head coach Lawrence Frank on hand as lead assistant.

For his part, Williams joined other Kidd fans in congratulating the 40-year-old by tweeting: “Excited to get to work under our new head coach @RealJasonKidd great leader and great basketball mind will be a great head coach #BROOKLYN.”