Maybe teammates had been so used to LeBron James needing his headband, whether it’s for comfort or appearance. Fighting for his life in these NBA Finals, fighting for his basketball stature, this accessory was the last thing James had on his mind in Game 6. Read More. Written by Shams Charania on Jun 19, 2013
Jay-Z founded the Roc Nation Sports agency this year and will soon represent Kevin Durant as his highest profile basketball player.
Robinson Cano of the New York Yankees is another high profile client.
Jay-Z, however, still owns his small share of the Brooklyn Nets, according to ESPN. The NBA's collective bargaining agreement does not allow agents to also be owners of teams.
Vivek Ranadive recently purchased the Sacramento Kings and has been operating the franchise while still owning a piece of the Golden State Warriors.
Tyson Chandler was not surprised that Jason Kidd retired recently to eventually become head coach of the Brooklyn Nets, but he does think the former New York Knicks guard could have played more seasons in the NBA.
"I tried to [convince him]," Chandler said. "I did. I thought he had a couple of more years in him. I gave my input. I tried to tell him he could still do it, and you have a lot left in you.’’
Although Kidd went scoreless in the final 10 games of the season, Chandler does not believe he went through a slump.
“I didn’t consider it a slump,’’ Chandler said. “He’s a floor leader. He entered the game as a floor leader and leaves it as a floor leader.He didn’t make shots in the playoffs, but that’s not a slump for him. It’s everything else Jason brings.’’
Mikhail Prokhorov sees a budding coaching star in Jason Kidd because of the former Nets guard's knowledge and playing experience.
“The point is that there are people who are born coaches,” Prokhorov said. “And it is known that Jason Kidd was in fact a player-coach on many teams. And he has been training for a long time. He has played under many coaches, and he has always wanted to be a coach.”
Prokhorov thinks Kidd will bring star power to the Nets sideline.
“Despite all the N.B.A.’s competitive potential, they lack a little bit of star coaches,” he said. “Of course, we are very glad that now, together with our fans, we can grow up a new star and finally, naturally, win the N.B.A.”
C.J. Watson will opt out of the final year of his contract with the Brooklyn Nets, thereby becoming an unrestricted free agent on July 1, a league source confirmed.
Watson signed a two-year contract with a player option for the second year before the 2012-13 season.
In terms of free agent contracts, the Nets are limited to the veteran’s minimum because they are over the salary cap.
Jason Kidd offered Lawrence Frank the opportunity to be part of his staff with the Brooklyn Nets.
"The invitation is out there, so it's up to him," Kidd said Friday.
"He's in a special situation. He's at home, his wife is sick, so I understand coming off of coaching [the Detroit Pistons] and [possibly] wanting a year off with his family, so I respect that. The big thing is he knows how much I love him and how much I need him, but family comes first, and I respect that."
Frank’s wife underwent emergency surgery in March for an undisclosed illness.
Kidd wants to put together an experienced team of assistants.
"There's a lot of people that have come out publicly saying that I need to get a seasoned staff, and that's what I'm looking at, people who maybe have been head coaches in this league or have been assistants and understand what it take to have some success so I can learn on the job," Kidd said. "One of those candidates is Lawrence Frank that I'm trying to get because we get along well, I trust him and I think he understands what it takes to have some success in this league."
Jason Kidd played in two NBA Finals with the then-New Jersey Nets, and won his only championship in 2011 with the Dallas Mavericks.
Kidd hopes to take those experiences, couple them with lessons from past coaches, and use them to help improve the Nets next season.
"I spoke to Mikhail (Prokhorov) on the phone and understood right away how much he wants to win,” Kidd said of his interview. “I understood their concerns that I had never coached. But what they got from me is that I would be willing to learn. And that my work ethic as a coach was going to be the same as it was when I was a player. I shared with them the things that I plan to share with Deron (Williams) and with the whole team. After I left the Nets I found out what it takes to not just make the Finals, but to win a championship. I think I have a sense now of how you build a championship structure and how you maintain that structure."
Kidd interviewed at the Nets practice facility in East Rutherford, N.J.
"I felt like I was home, I really did," Kidd said. "I felt like I was home all over again once I was inside my old practice facility. This was the place where we practiced when we made our runs to the Finals. Whatever nerves I felt on the way over there, they really did settle inside me once I walked up the stairs."
Late Wednesday, the Nets announced that the team has hired Jason Kidd to become its new head coach.
Kidd played seven seasons as a Net and just retired from playing with the cross-town rival Knicks.
The all-time great point guard will be the Nets' third head coach in less than a year. His close relationship wit Deron Williams is believed to be a major factor in the decision.