Fourteen seasons under his belt, Jason remains one of the greatest players currently suiting up in the NBA.
That was the consensus of two stories over the past few days in the Dallas Morning News and the Star Telegram.
In the DMN, Mavs beat writer Eddie Sefko dedicated an entire piece to Jason’s remarkable hand speed, which has left opposing defenses bending over backwards — literally — to try and stop his passes and avoid his steals.
Sefko wrote:
Interestingly, Kidd’s rock-solid efforts of late have been a key to the Mavericks looking more like a top-tier team and less like one that will have to fight just to make the playoffs. He’s done it with the one part of his body that still hasn’t lost any speed.
Other than perhaps his basketball brain, his hands remain as fast as anybody’s in the NBA.
"Maybe that’s the last thing that I have that moves as if I’m 21," Kidd said.
"A portion of the huge comeback was a great example. Kidd had two steals in the fourth quarter. One led to a Jason Terry layup, the other to a Dirk Nowitzki dunk.
In that stretch, the Mavericks went from down four points to up four points.
Game over.
Dallas coach Rick Carlisle spoke at length about Jason’s defensive ability:
"He just has such a sense for where to be defensively and how to be opportunistic…He’s deceptively quick, and his level of anticipation is truly unique. He’s just one of those guys that can see things that are going to happen before maybe even the guy throwing the ball knows. It’s just one of those sixth-sense characteristics of a great player.
"He’s got a live motor for the ball. And he’s got great hands."
FIVE MORE YEARS
The Star Telegram‘s Jan Hubbard dedicated an entire column Friday to the remarkable skill level Jason has shown this year, and speculated about his long-term future, which might go on longer than a lot of people think.
After the Timberwolves blew a 29-point lead and lost to the Mavericks on Tuesday, 25-year-old point guard Randy Foye sat in front of his locker and marveled at the play of 35-year-old Jason Kidd.
Foye had a fascinating observation, particularly in light of suggestions from everywhere except in the Mavericks’ front office and locker room, that Kidd is nearing the point of being over the proverbial hill.
Foye suggested that was far from true and ventured to say that Kidd might even play another five years. That would make Kidd 40 and would give him 20 seasons in the NBA.
"I was joking with Donyell Marshall [of the Sixers], and he said, ‘How long do you think you can go? " Kidd said. "I said maybe five more years if I’m playing the way that I am now and this is my role. I’m fine with that."
RELATED STORIES
Jason Kidd has stamina, ability to play another five years (Star Telegram, Jan. 2, 2009)
http://www.star-telegram.com/287/story/1122244.html
Kidd’s fast hands helping Dallas Mavericks win (Dallas Morning News, Jan 1, 2009)
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/basketball/mavs/stories/010209dnspomavslede.2d7fea8.html