Jason added to his sure-fire Hall of Fame resume this weekend, becoming the fourth player in NBA history to log 10,000 assists.

If that wasn’t enough, he also moved up to seventh on the league’s all-time steals list.

Jason’s historic Sunday helped Dallas to beat the Toronto Raptors Saturday night in an easy 109-98 victory. J-Kidd picked up six boards, which helped to give the Mavs a 57-45 rebounding edge. So far this season, No.2 has been the fifth most efficient rebounder on the team based on how often he gets a board.

As well as rebounding, the Mavs continue to succeed when Jason has double-digit assists as his team-high 15 assists kept the ball moving to produce easy-open looks.

This was the pass that led to Jason’s landmark 10,000th assist (Getty Images).

THE 10,000 CLUB
Jason reaches his historic assist milestone with his 14th assist Saturday night, coming in the third quarter of the game. No. 2 was aware that the mark was in reach, as he explained prior to the game to the Star-Telegram:

“It would be a great accomplishment and a credit to every teammate I’ve ever played with because I can’t get an assist unless someone else scores.”

J-Kidd might have been willing to give more credit to his teammates, but others were much more effusive in their praise for his accomplishment.

Coach Carlisle talked to the Star-Telegram about Jason’s reaching 10,000 assists:

“I have a special appreciation for 10,000 assists because in my five-year career I had 201 total. So I let him know that; that was pretty special.”

Assistant Coach Del Harris also talked to the Star-Telegram about Jason’s achievement:

“When we evaluate point guards, the biggest thing is whether they make their teammates better. And when you have 10,000 assists, you obviously made a lot of folks better.”

Dirk Nowitzki was also impressed by J.Kidd, as he jokingly said that it would take him another 60 years of playing to match Jason’s assist numbers.

He was obviously exaggerating; in fact it would only take Dirk 40 years to reach his 10,000th assist.

To look at Jason’s numbers in another way, if you add up the assist totals of the rest of the Mavs on last night’s active roster, you would still fall short of 10,000.

The other 11 active Mavs only have a combined career total of 8,722 assists.

FANS CORNER
Fans as well as teammates were extremely impressed and honored to watch Jason become the 4th player with 10,000 assists.

Here’s what they had to say on the Mavs Blog:

Posted by Marty:
Jason Kidd is simply amazing…time to pass Magic next!!

Posted by K:
Kidd>Harris. Let’s see Harris do that!!! Harris could not have got you 10,000 assist in arena. 100 triple doubles in the arena!!! Kidd is moving close to the 8th best 3pt shooter of all time spot!!!!

Posted by bewildered:
Congrats to JK!

APPRECIATING JASON
Jason obviously ranks high in assists when comparing him to other point guards, but he also can hold is own in other statistical categories.

The Star-Telegram took at look at J-Kidd’s career numbers to show just how good he really is:

“Kidd is the current active leader among all NBA players in career steals with 2,165 and he ranks eighth all-time. Among point guards, only John Stockton (2.2) and Maurice Cheeks (2.1) rank ahead of Kidd (2.0) in steals per game.”

“Among point guards, Kidd is the third best rebounder in history. Only Oscar Robertson (7.5) and Magic Johnson (7.2) are ahead of Kidd (6.7). This season, Kidd (6.2) leads all NBA guards in rebounding, and that includes Kobe Bryant (5.4).”

“Of the top 10 point guards, Kidd ranks last in career shooting percentage (.402). He obviously has never been a great jump shooter but, interestingly, in career 3-point shooting percentage, Kidd (34.0) ranks third behind only Steve Nash (43.0) and John Stockton (38.4).”

“It’s kind of like my golf game,” Kidd said, jokingly. “I have trouble with the short game but I love the long drive.”

STRONG IN OT
Jason came through at the right time against the Thunder on Friday night, as all 10 of his points came in the OT that finally gave the Mavs a hard-fought 110-108 victory.

After the Mavs had overcome a late 12-point deficit to force overtime, Jason carried the Mavs on his back throughout the overtime period. He hit two 3-pointers, including one with 20.7 seconds left, and a pair of free throws with only 6 second remaining to make sure that they didn’t let the game slip away.

J.Kidd, who finished with 10 boards, 14 assists, and 5 boards, talked with the Star-Telegram about his overtime heroics and the fact that his teammates kept them in the game when he couldn’t score earlier:

“Yeah, that’s when I showed up. My teammates were going and I didn’t feel too well. The big thing was the guys were making shots.”

Jason’s first 3-pointers set the tone for the overtime period for the Mavs. Nowitzki told the Star-Telegram about how he and Jason had talked about that shot earlier:

“I said to him, ‘Do you have one shot in you?’ He said, ‘Yes, that’s about all I’ve got tonight. As soon as I turned my back I knew Westbrook was coming, and I was able to deliver the ball to Kidd and he knocked it down. That’s why he’s a Hall of Famer for us.”

Even Coach Carlisle was impressed with Jason’s effort:

“He had steals, assists, hit two huge 3s and made four of the biggest free throws of the game. He’s just a great competitor. We’re fortunate. He made plays, Dirk made plays, and we lived to fight another day here.”

Also during the game, Jason recorded his 2,163rd steal to put him above Hakeem for 7th place on the all-time steals list.

NEXT UP
The Mavs have a rematch against the Thunder Monday night at 7 pm CST.

RELATED STORIES
Raptors 98, Mavericks 109 (ESPN.com, Mar. 1st, 2009)
http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=290301006
Thunder 108, Mavericks 110 (ESPN.com, Feb. 27th, 2009)
http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=290227006
When Dallas rebounds, defends, wins usually follow (Dallas Morning News, Mar. 1st, 2009)
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/basketball/mavs/stories/030109dnspomavslede.3373462.html
Carlisle appreciates Kidd (Star-Telegram, Mar. 2nd, 2009)
http://startelegramsports.typepad.com/mavs/2009/03/carlisle-appreciates-kidd.html
Jason Kidd is a point guard and much, much more (Star-Telegram, Mar. 1st, 2009)
http://www.star-telegram.com/287/story/1231633.html
Another way to look at Jason Kidd’s 10K (Dallas Morning News, Mar. 2nd, 2009)
http://mavsblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/03/another-way-to-look-at-jason-kidds-10k.html
10K and counting for Jason Kidd (Mavs Blog, Mar. 1st, 2009)
http://mavsblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/03/10k-and-counting-for-jason-kidd.html
Jason Kidd saves his points for last in Dallas Mavericks’ OT win (Star-Telegram, Feb. 28th, 2009)
http://www.star-telegram.com/287/story/1230589.html