The failed power play by Jason Kidd, doused by the Nets’ Russian hierarchy, was not the first time the Hall of Fame-bound point guard tried to wield his influence within the organization.
League sources, some within and some outside the Nets, insist there were previous instances of Kidd trying to transcend his position with the most obvious being his relationship with Byron Scott. Kidd, sources insist, attempted to have Scott removed as coach several times.
There were nasty breakups elsewhere — Dallas, Phoenix, accusations at California back in his college days. But Kidd’s history with the Nets is intriguing enough.
“You look at the situation with Byron, I think he was unhappy with him that very first year. The second year, no question,” said a former team member who cited one instance from March 2003.
The Nets were reeling on a four-game losing streak. Despite a trip to the Finals the previous season, there was speculation concerning Scott’s job security. Another defeat in New Orleans and there could be trouble.
But an unlikely hero emerged. Brian Scalabrine, who had only two previous double figure efforts that season — in two blowouts decided by a total of 48 points — equaled a season high with 16 points.
Kidd was not amused. According to the team member who was on the bus that day, Kidd told Scalabrine he likely saved Scott’s job.
League sources again confirmed that Kidd during his free agency in 2003 threatened he would leave for the Spurs if Scott were retained. Scott finally was let go during the 2003-04 season — but not until after Kidd’s December locker room tirade against Scott in Memphis.
The Nets were annihilated by 47 points and Kidd was heard unleashing a long, loud, profane locker room tirade. Later, it was confirmed Kidd was ripping into the coaches for lack of preparation.
Kidd’s eventual divorce from the Nets as a player was hardly ideal. He wanted out. Then-president Rod Thorn, now NBA president of basketball operations, discussed that breakup last week, before Kidd’s latest power play.
“His feeling was we weren’t trying to compete for a championship. He thought we were doing things for financial reasons rather than trying to win a championship. He was adamant that he wanted to be on a team he felt had a chance to win a championship and he felt we didn’t have any,” Thorn said. “So he was very outgoing about the fact he’d like to be traded at that time.”
Before the final breakup came the Migraine Game. Kidd “went on strike,” one team official said at the time. He called in with a migraine and skipped a December 2007 home game against the Knicks. Several team sources then and now maintain Kidd, who so frequently played in pain without a peep, had planned the protest on the plane ride back from Cleveland.
So he was dealt to Dallas where he had problems with Avery Johnson. But that’s another story. He left Dallas, ticking off Mark Cuban. Another story. He landed with the Knicks and retired with one year remaining. Yet another tale.
Back to the Nets. Kidd wooed Lawrence Frank, insisting he join him.
“The reason I kind of publicly recruited him [is] because I really need him and want him,” Kidd said during a visit to Yankee Stadium after being named coach.
Frank agreed, became the highest paid assistant in the league. And then he became the highest paid report writer in the league when Kidd banished him.
The final divorce seems irrevocable. Kidd may have tried one more move. Sources claim he proposed a trade of Brook Lopez and Mirza Teletovic to Milwaukee for Larry Sanders and Ersan Ilyasova after the season. It is Milwaukee that received permission to talk to Kidd, making the timing of that proposal highly suspect.