Kidd Returns to Brooklyn, Bucks win in Triple Overtime
Wednesday Night Jason Kidd returned to Brooklyn to face the Nets for the first time since leaving the team as coach to take over as the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks.
After taking a few verbal shots at Billy King his former general manager, Kidd and his young upstart Bucks battled the Nets for three overtimes before winning 122-118.
Kidd left New York with much more than just a “W†against his former team.
His team is better for the future. While the Nets are currently suffering through a losing streak of five games, they should have a better team than the Bucks this season. However, down the road the Bucks will be a better team.
Youngster Giannis Antetokounmpo is 19 and from Greece. He scored 18 points and grabbed 12 boards for the Bucks.
Jabari Parker the No. 2 pick in the draft scored 23 points and grabbed 7 rebounds and he too is just 19 years old. Brandon Knight missed a layup to win the game in the first OT but he too can score and is young. The Bucks also have John Henson, Khris Middleton, Larry Sanders and O.J. Mayo.
Many wondered what reasons Kidd would leave a Brooklyn team with veterans like Kevin Garnett, Joe Johnson, Brook Lopez and Deron Williams.
Usually NBA head coaches prefer rosters that can win now and not a team loaded with teenagers full of talent like Milwaukee.
Rumors are Kidd asked for more input on basketball personnel and left when it did not come through.
Kidd denied asking for more power. However, he confirmed he had a disagreement with King. He was close to being fired last season when the Nets started slow, but kept on as the players were behind him. However, his relationship with King deteriorated from that point on.
Kidd said he realized the type of people he was working for when they wanted to fire him after only the first month of the season while he was still trying to work new faces into the lineup.
Kidd said by the time he left he did not have a relationship with King.
Kidd however remains close to his players from last season. Garnett, Johnson, Williams, Lopez, Alan Anderson, Mirza Teletovic, Jarrett Jack and Mason Plumlee all hugged Kidd as well as spoke to him at either halftime or following the game.
Kidd might have left on unhappy terms from Brooklyn after last season, but Wednesday night he was able to give people a slight glimpse of what he saw in the Bucks and his future.
His new team is young but loaded with talent. With a few acquisitions and the experience of a season or two the Bucks could be a contender over the next couple of seasons and Kidd will be there guiding the youngsters through it all.
