NBA

KIDD & CO. SET FOR BUSINESS

There has been size like this in New Jersey before, but these players can actually play.

There is oceanic depth. There is a promise of motion on offense, and on the other end an even bigger promise to defend to the death – or at least the fourth quarter.

There is the versatility of a Swiss Army knife. There is a superstar scorer in Vince Carter, a healthy two-way star in Richard Jefferson.

And there is the mechanism that makes it all go, the point guard destined for a spot in Springfield, Jason Kidd.

“Everything,” Jefferson replied when asked just what Kidd means to the overall makeup of the Nets, who start their seventh season of the Kidd Era tonight in the Meadowlands against Chicago.

“He’s our best player. I’ve run out of adjectives for this guy. He is our team.”

Kidd has been the barometer for every season since he showed up in New Jersey. Before Kidd, the Nets knew seven winning seasons out of 25. They had lost 10 of 11 playoff series. They were the butt of more jokes than Dick Cheney’s marksmanship.

Since Kidd, the Nets have made the playoffs every Year, with a 9-6 postseason series record. They went to the Finals twice. And they have not had a losing season.

So you listen when Kidd says he likes this team as much as any he’s been with – Olympic collections aside.

“This is pretty much a veteran ballclub,” said Kidd, who feels “great” after a preseason disrupted by a back injury. “We have one rookie. We have a lot of bigs. This is probably the biggest team I’ve been on.”

As well as the best. And Kidd is the engine that makes it all go – in every way.

“He’s definitely the big factor for us, just his ability to do so many things,” said Carter, who forms the Nets’ All-Star backcourt with Kidd.

“His willingness to win, his desire to win. The mark he puts on the game, offensively and defensively, is second to none. He makes it easier for all of us. By him doing that, we all want to make it easier for him.”

Kidd has shown a stunning “whatever it takes” approach since he left Phoenix. His 87 triple-doubles testify to that. He averaged a triple-double through two playoff series last spring, when he capped one of his finest seasons.

“He’s still at he top of his game,” said team president Rod Thorn. “He’s a great player. Look at what he did with the Olympic team this summer. He’s the leader on the court, our best rebounder, one of our best defenders and certainly our best passer.”

The rebounds, though, Kidd would like someone else to put all that size to use. He’s a point guard, remember?

“It wouldn’t bother me if somebody else would lead the team in rebounding, especially a big, so we can get out and run,” Kidd said.

And win. Which is all they’ve done since he arrived, although the ultimate prize has eluded him. But maybe this season?

“We’re here, so why not try to win a championship?” Kidd said. “We’re not here to play for second. This team will compete.”

Ditto Kidd.

“I just have to be myself,” he said, “do what I did last year: 13 points, probably not as many rebounds. Find the open guy, play defense. My game hasn’t changed since I came into the league, so there’s nothing I have to do now.”

Just being Jason Kidd will be enough for the Nets.

BULLS at NETS Tonight – 7:30 YES

WBBR

(1130 AM)

fred.kerber@nypost.com