'Til Infinity

Jason Kidd is the man. He has probably been my favorite player in the NBA pretty much since he was rookie. I have always loved his ability to pick apart defenses, run a fast break and make something out of nothing. His excellent work ethic, stubborn defending and unparalleled vision were out of this world. You could argue that his work ethic and vision still are top notch. Even with his streaking shooting and the occasional turnover, his on the court efforts made it possible for me to support him (and look the other way) when it came to his off the court problems. He commanded his team the way a quarterback or a holding midfielder should, probing defenses and controlling the tempo of the game to perfection. He's the reason I wore the number 5 during my high school soccer career.

Even before his start in the NBA he was one of my favorite basketball players. I first saw him when he won his second state championship at St. Joes. My dad took us to the State Championships almost every year. Even as a high schooler, he was faking behind the back and throwing no-look passes with pin-point accuracy. While I can't name the other player or remember how it exactly affected the game, I can vividly see his alley-oop in the second half the State Championship.

I followed him through his two seasons at Cal where he went on to break passing records and become an All-American. One of my favorite Jason Kidd moments happened at Cal but it wasn't during a game. We attended Cal baseball games on a regular basis and liked to use Harmon Gym's bathroom because of its cleanliness (obviously). I remember always stopping by the court to watch Cal basketball players take jumpers. One specific time, Kidd was shooting around. I can't remember if he was by himself with a couple teammates but I watched him for what could have been 5 minutes or an hour. I even mustered up the courage to grab a couple stray rebounds for him. It was kind of really awesome.

After college, I watched him win co-Rookie of the Year, and pile on numerous awards and records after that. I followed him most fervently during his relatively successful tenure with the Nets, where he was unable to win a Championship (or an MVP). Unfortunately, Kidd and his teammates just didn't have what it takes to win it all. As the Nets began to fade, and as Kidd got older, I started lining up my new favorite players and following them more closely. I always kept my eye out for Kidd highlights, stat lines and the odd Nets' game, but in all honesty, I had moved on. (This stretch also marked a low-point in my interest in basketball and the return of the Warriors to the playoffs, both of which contributed in me not watching Kidd as much.)

That brings us to now, or to this season anyway. I was against the Dallas trade from the start. I didn't think Kidd matched Dallas' style. I didn't think he was what they needed to make it to the Finals (and I still don't think that). I didn't agree with the terms of the trade and I didn't like the pressure that Kidd would be under because of those terms. And mainly, I just couldn't see myself rooting for the Mavs. As it went, the Mavs didn't do half bad in the regular season and now they're in Round 2 of the playoffs. Even the Sports Guy, who has been bad-mouthing the trade all season long, is finally giving Kidd his due props:

"Q: Does Dallas' thorough shellacking of the Spurs mean that the Jason Kidd-Devin Harris trade wasn't one of the five worst trades of the decade?

A: You know what? I have to say yes. To be clear: The Mavs still gave up waaaaaaaaay too much and should have fired their coach before shaking things up; there's an 81 percent chance they'd be just as unstoppable with Devin Harris in Kidd's place. But you can't deny Kidd's effect on Jason Terry, Josh Howard and Dirk -- he lives to make them better and they are better. Beyond that, the Mavs have excellent chemistry for the first time I can ever remember. Part of that might be Nowitzki emerging as a leader, but again, maybe that doesn't happen without Kidd.

The most interesting wrinkle to me: Of any "former great," with the possible exception of Karl Malone, Kidd did the best job of accepting his weaknesses and accentuating his strengths. He can't defend good point guards anymore, and he always shot a poor percentage. Fine. But he can run a team. He can make 3-pointers as long as he's wide open. He can advise and lead. He can run fast breaks as well as anyone. He can still jump passing lanes and swipe a dumb pass. He has recreated himself as a still-effective complementary player. That's something that Gary Payton couldn't do, or Chris Webber, or Allen Iverson, or Charles Barkley, or Larry Johnson, or Mitch Richmond, or Glen Rice, or Penny Hardaway, or Jermaine O'Neal. ... I mean, it's hard to say, "I can no longer do everything from A through Z, but I can still do A, D, F, J, K and M, so that's what I will do."

In a stroke of luck, Kidd might make it the rest of the playoffs -- a postseason that featured a remarkable slew of penetrating point guards -- without facing anyone else who will chew him up like Tony Parker did. In Round 2, Chauncey Billups is a perfect matchup for him, a herky-jerky, physical jump-shooter who Kidd can bump and grind. In Round 3, he'd go against Derek Fisher, Shannon Brown and the Artist Formerly Known As Jordan Farmar, or as I like to call them, the Poop Club Sandwich. In the Finals, he'd get Mo Williams and Boobie Gibson. That's why I see Kidd gaining steam as the playoffs keep going, this rejuvenated Dallas team making the Western Conference finals, and even the Lakers sweating out that Finals berth more than people anticipate.

You know what else? A reader (can't remember his name) pointed out something to me that I passed along in a podcast and now I will mention here: Kidd is the only guy who can defend LeBron and Kobe. Why? They respect him too much. They don't want to kick his butt. It doesn't make them feel good. They settle for jumpers instead of just destroying him off the dribble in a goofy display of guilt and respect. Back in the '60s, Wilt rarely unleashed against Russell because he liked him so much. ... In fact, that was Russell's ploy, to make Wilt like him so he wouldn't annihilate him. I don't think Kidd thinks that way; the situation is what it is. Those guys love him from their Redeem Team days and have no interest in eviscerating him now.

But as strange as this sounds, Jason Kidd's advanced age and declining defensive skills might be Dallas' best chance against the Lakers and Cavs. Call it the Pity Theory. Just wait."

Even though the odds are against him, I hope Kidd can win his championship, even if it's in a reduced role. Hopefully, he can contribute to a Championship team in the same way, if not more integral, that he helped US win the gold medal last summer. But let's face it. I doubt that's going to happen with Dallas and in some odd way, I hope it doesn't happen with Dallas. I'm holding on to the entirely slim and pretty unrealistic chance that he can find his way to a Lebron or Kobe team where he can provide some experience and veteran savvy in limited, but *not* unimportant minutes. For me, that would be ideal and really fun to watch, but for Kidd's sake, I just hope he gets his ring.