Back in 2021, the Dallas Mavericks made the decision to bring in Jason Kidd as head coach. As he continues this chapter of his basketball journey, he received high praise from one of the most notable analysts in the basketball space.
Long before he got into coaching, Kidd enjoyed a Hall of Fame career as a player. He was one of the NBA’s top point guards for the majority of his career and is still viewed as one of the best facilitators the game has ever seen.
During Thursday’s episode of “First Take,” Stephen A. Smith compiled his list of the top five point guards in NBA history. Kidd ended up making an appearance, slotting in at No. 4. The only players Stephen A. put ahead of him were Isiah Thomas, Stephen Curry, and Magic Johnson.
“Without a jump shot, and you still couldn’t stop him,” Stephen A. said of Kidd. “J-Kidd was something special to behold.”
Kidd’s high basketball IQ allowed him to hand around the league for nearly two decades. His playing days didn’t come to an end until 2013 at the age of 39. Aside from helping the Dallas Mavericks win a championship in 2011, he retired as a 10-time All-Star, made six All-NBA teams, and led the league in assists on five different occasions.
With his impressive resumé, Kidd certainly belongs in the conversation for the best ever at his position. He currently sits third all-time in assists with 12,091. Guys like Curry and Johnson certainly belong ahead of him, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that Kidd is one of the best floor generals the game of basketball has ever seen.
