Being successful in the NBA has a different definition for every athlete. For some, it simply means winning titles and earning generational wealth. However, there are some players who are cut from a different cloth and aim to be remembered as the greatest the league has ever seen.
Usually, the GOAT debate features the likes of Michael Jordan, LeBron James , Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Kobe Bryant, among others. One common thread among almost every candidate for this title is their ability to score on the court.
Playmaking geniuses such as Jason Kidd or John Stockton are hardly mentioned in these debates. After all, fans always seem to enjoy seeing a player score 30 points rather than dishing out 10 assists on any given night.
J-Kidd answers how he could have been in the debate
J-Kidd is currently the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks . He is coming on the heels of leading the Mavs to the 2024 NBA Finals, albeit getting the gentlemen’s sweep at the hands of the Boston Celtics.
During his career, Kidd was known for his remarkable playmaking ability. However, the 2011 NBA champion recently revealed that his lack of scoring ability had majorly held him back from being a top-notch player.
“My whole thing is the pass, right? Defense, pass, but that's how I try to control the game,” Kidd said, “So that's a great question, what could I have done better? Found someone like Chris who could teach me how to shoot when I was your age. If I could shoot, s**t, I'd be part of that GOAT conversation I think.”
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Kidd’s remarkable NBA career
For what it’s worth, Kidd may have been a bit too critical of himself. After all, he had a stellar 19-year career in the NBA.
He retired from the league in 2013 as an NBA champion, 10x NBA All-Star, 6x All-NBA, 9x All-Defensive team member, and 5x NBA Assists leader. On top of that, he averaged 12.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 8.7 assists per game for his career.
Sure, Kidd struggled to score, but he certainly made up for it with his breathtaking playmaking ability. The California native dished out 12,091 assists during his 19-year stint in the NBA. It earned him the second spot among NBA all-time assists leaders. He is only behind Stockton, who had 15,806 assists during his career.
Right now, Kidd is using his incredible understanding of the game of basketball to help the Mavericks get over the final hump and win an NBA Championship.
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