By FRED KERBER
Jason Kidd says these Nets represent the best team he has been on — honest.
Now Olympic teams don’t count – this past summer’s group was the best, Kidd said – but the 2007-08 Nets appear to be the best team to be directed by his Hall of Fame talent.
“This team is the most talented team that I’ve been on,” Kidd said before the Nets and Knicks ended (thankfully) the exhibition schedule at the Garden Friday.
Kidd pointed to the talent – what he called the “so-called solids.” But what also had him pumped are all the intangibles on this team. Boki Nachbar playing for a contract – Antoine Wright too (more on him later). And he compared their situations to those of Brian Scalabrine and Mikki Moore who contributed big time in contract years and earned big bucks.
“Those type of things help motivate a team and get a team to play a little harder for each other. And I think that’s what this team is doing,” Kidd said.
Kidd by the way said he felt “great” for his first exhibition appearance of the season. He had been down with a sore back of course. But he proclaimed himself ready: “48 minutes if coach needs me.”
And he didn’t expect any problems. Last year he returned from back issues and felt fine.
“I thought I had a great second half of the season and I didn’t have anything that limited me moving. Maybe dunking, took away my dream of dunking,” Kidd joked.
But then he got serious about this Net bunch.
“I’m excited. I am. I don’t tend to show it but I feel very confident with this team, just the work that we’ve put in,” he said.
Coach Lawrence Frank made Malik Allen (foot) a late scratch. Wanted to give him the added time off. Nenad Krstic, though, was back in the starting lineup.
With writers from the respective mags present, Frank took joking shots at “Sports Illustrated” and “ESPN,” for not picking the Nets higher.
“‘Sports Illustrated’ obviously didn’t think we were a playoff team. ESPN, a couple others kind of thought we’re going to be in the NBDL,” Frank said.
Nets announced they won’t pick up the fourth year option on Antoine Wright. They likely figure they can re-sign him for less than the $2.576 million he would earn. Team pres Rod Thorn said Nets “are looking to have financial flexibility at the conclusion of the season.” Wright took it in stride.
“I really hadn’t thought much about it. My agent told me it was probably not going to happen so I was a little prepared for it,” Wright said. “Regardless, this is going to be a big year for me…I just view it as an opportunity to better my situation.”
Movie Quote of the Day — Rod Steiger (Police chief Bill Gillespie): “I’ve got the motive which is money, I’ve got the body which is dead.” – “In the Heat of the Night”