NOT SO SECRET ADMIRER: Hall of Famer Chris Mullin said Knicks point guard Jason Kidd (top), at age 39, is “defying all kinds of logic” with the way he’s playing this season. (Anthony J. Causi)
MINNEAPOLIS — Chris Mullin was there in Oakland when it all began for Jason Kidd, who used to attend Warriors practices while in high school.
“By the time he was in ninth grade, he was like the Pearl Washington of New York, he was so well-known,’’ Mullin told The Post yesterday. “And he kept getting better. I thought he’d level off, but he never did. He was incredible in high school.’’
Mullin, the Hall of Famer out of Brooklyn, is admiring the Knicks’ renaissance season from afar, still living in the Bay Area. Mullin is scheduled to broadcast his first Knicks game Sunday for ESPN Radio when they host the Clippers, but his flight to New York has already been cancelled because of the potential blizzard and he’s scrambling to find a way to get there.
The Knicks (31-16), coming off an aberration of a loss in Washington, face the Timberwolves tonight at Target Center and are also concerned about their flight home tonight.
Mullin was looking forward to seeing Kidd at age 39 still doing his thing at the Garden.
“Jason is defying all kinds of logic,’’ Mullin said. “He sets a great tone, too, just by being an unselfish player. He throws the ball ahead of guys, gets them involved, makes them feel part of the team. It’s uncanny how he does it. He’s transformed into a 3-point shooter.
“Wherever he goes, whatever stage of his career, he finds out what his team needs to win and he does it.’’
Mullin, who works for ESPN, was in Montreal on an NBA promotion during the preseason October night when Amar’e Stoudemire got hurt. Mullin wasn’t all that impressed. He told The Post then he felt Miami was in a different class. He backtracked yesterday, loving what the Knicks have become.
“I see a different team now,’’ Mullin said. “A cohesive, unselfish, ball-sharing team, playing for each other. It’s a different team. It looks like they’re a nice, cohesive unit, roles well-defined, guys comfortable in roles.
“I’d have to say they’re right in the mix [to dethrone Miami]. A lot can change with injuries and Miami is the defending champs so you give them their respect. But the Knicks have enough big guys and that’s the thing the Heat struggle with. [The Knicks] can put out a lot of big bodies if healthy.’’
Mullin said beating the Heat may depend on whether Iman Shumpert returns to his rookie form after ACL surgery.
Coach Mike Woodson said Shumpert isn’t playing defense with “the reckless abandon’’ he had last season.
Mullin feels if Shumpert gets right, the Heat could be in trouble.
“Shumpert is the key guy to be able to deter or slow down Dwyane Wade,’’ Mullin said. “He can be a tremendous perimeter defender. Playing the Heat, you got to get one of those two guys off their game.
“If LeBron [James] and Wade are both getting 30, you won’t win. But if you start shifting the onus on their role players, and slow one of them down, suddenly the Knicks have a little more firepower as far as depth. J.R. Smith can start for a lot of teams.’’
Mullin just likes the Knicks’ vibe, but feels starting point guard Raymond Felton also has to stay healthy so Kidd doesn’t have to carry the load.
“That lockout, he wasn’t in shape and it was a wake-up call,’’ Mullin said of Felton’s performance last season. “He came in [this season in] much better shape. And it’s not just his body, but his confidence and moving much better than he did in Denver and Portland. He’s back to himself again.
“With Felton out, I didn’t like that too much, shifting to veteran guys. The veteran guys shouldn’t carry and steer the ship. It’s got to be Felton, Stoudemire, Carmelo [Anthony] and [Tyson] Chandler. They can’t get hurt.’’
Of course, health is never a sure thing with Stoudemire, who has been on a low-post tear since mid-January.
“Since Stoudemire came back, it’s one thing to accept your role, but he’s flourishing in it,’’ Mullin said. “And they’ve dispelled the notion Tyson, Carmelo and Stoudemire can’t play together.’’
However, Mullin, the former St. John’s standout, won’t vote Anthony the MVP.
“Carmelo has played at a level right below LeBron and [Kevin] Durant,’’ Mullin said. “Those two guys are 1a, 1b for MVP. Melo is the next-level guy. He could always score but he’s scoring more efficiently, making that extra effort, getting after loose balls, making quick passes when recognizing the double team.’’
Mullin said these Knicks have been a joy to watch, seeing them “all clicking together.’’
The only thing he doesn’t know if he’ll get to the Garden by Sunday to see it live.