There is a chance that the Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets will be in pursuit of Jason Kidd, and the 39-year-old point guard admits that is an intriguing scenario.
“It’s a possibility, I wouldn’t rule that out, to come back here to New York to finish my career out,’’ Kidd said yesterday at the Big Daddy Oheka Castle Celebrity Golf Tournament in Huntington. “I want to win a championship, so we’ll see what happens.’’
Kidd led the Nets to back-to-back NBA Finals appearances before finally cashing in and claiming his first NBA title in 2011 with the Mavericks. One of his teammates in Dallas, Tyson Chandler, just completed a successful first season with the Knicks, and Chandler’s presence could be a lure for the future Hall of Famer and soon-to-be free agent.
“Being a teammate of Tyson’s and understanding what he brings to the table every night, it can only help,’’ Kidd said. “He’s a great guy. I love Tyson. He was one of my favorite teammates. He had a heck of a year. We missed him in Dallas.’’
Kidd knows his next stop will be as a mentor. If the Nets re-sign Deron Williams and that role comes in Brooklyn, so be it.
“I don’t mind backing him up, he’ll make my job easy,’’ Kidd said. “He’s young, he doesn’t need but 5-8 minutes of rest, so I can handle that job. If I had to play in the same backcourt with him, he can carry me.’’
Kidd called Williams “a franchise player,” saying he can carry a team, but did not sprinkle that same praise on Jeremy Lin.
“Lin was playing extremely well before he got hurt and they were playing well, so we’ll see what happens,’’ Kidd said. “Eventually, yeah, Lin will have the tools. He still has to learn the game, but I think eventually he’ll be a starter in this league.’’