Jason Kidd might become the next head coach for the Brooklyn Nets. The recently retired guard is scheduled to meet this week with the Nets to discuss the vacant position, ESPN reports.
Kidd is slated to meet early this week with Nets general manager Billy King. The meeting was originally to be an open-ended discussion about potential employment with the Nets, but sources told ESPN on Sunday that Kidd will try to sell himself to King as the best option for head coach.
"Jason feels he's really ready to do this," one of his associates told ESPN.
Brooklyn considers Kidd a serious contender. The 10-time NBA All-Star is on Brooklyn's list of coaching candidates, according to ESPN. Although Kidd has no coaching experience, he does have connections to the club. He led the Nets to two NBA Finals appearances, and he reportedly has a close relationship with guard Deron Williams.
Perhaps the biggest holdup is Kidd's lack of experience from the sideline. The 40-year-old retired earlier this month after playing for 19 seasons. If he was able to gather "an All-Star cast" of veteran assistants, it might mitigate his non-existent coaching experience.
"There are some hurdles to overcome," a source told ESPN.
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich believes Kidd has a legitimate shot at coaching in the NBA.
"When you've played for a number of coaches, he's pretty much seen everything that the NBA can offer," the future Hall of Fame coach told reporters on Sunday. "So he does have experience. If he's crazy enough to want to be a head coach in this league, I wish him all the best.
"He certainly has the intuitive skills to know what's going on out there. Obviously, he would be able to have relationships with the players that he's had with his coaches throughout. So if that's what he wants to do, and that's who [the Nets] want to hire, I think he's got an opportunity and a possibility to be really, really good at it."
It's a tough market this offseason for coaches. Indiana Pacers assistant Brian Shaw is reportedly on the top of Brooklyn's list. Former Denver Nuggets coach George Karl is also available, as is former Phoenix Suns coach Alvin Gentry and former Cleveland Cavaliers coach Byron Scott.
Kidd, the No. 2 overall pick of the 1994 draft, retired on June 3. He played for the Nets from 2001-08 and won an NBA title with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011. He averaged career numbers of 12.6 points, 8.7 assists, 6.3 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game.
