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Kidd: working “hard as I can” on Lawrence Frank

Posted on: June 18th, 2013 by Devin Kharpertian No Comments

 

New Brooklyn Nets head coach Jason Kidd continues his media rounds, this morning on Good Day New York, and talked more about his coaching philosophies and assistant candidates. Particularly, Kidd again expressed his interest in former New Jersey Nets coach Lawrence Frank to be his top assistant, adding that he's still pushing hard.

"I'm working as hard as I can," Kidd told Greg Kelly and Rosanna Scotto of Good Day New York of his Frank pursuit. "Hopefully he does join the staff, because he would be great."

As for the rest of his staff, don't expect any more newcomers. "I'm looking to put a veteran staff together that can help me in situations that I don't know," Kidd said. "There's a lot that I don't know, but I'm eager to learn."

Kidd adds that his phone's been ringing off the hook from other potential assistants. "Unfortunately there's only a certain amount of spots, but I can't take everybody."

Kidd feels that the ability to communicate with his players is the most important trait for a good head coach, from the stars to the bench players.

Good Day New York -- Jason Kidd Interview (Video)

CONTEST! The BK Draft Game

Posted on: June 17th, 2013 by Devin Kharpertian No Comments

 

With the NBA Draft coming up on June 27th at Barclays Center in Brooklyn -- and the Brooklyn Nets picking 22nd -- we wanted to open a new contest for our readers. We'll be taking a look at different scenarios and prospects all week, but for now: say hello to The BK Draft Game, where you can speculate on all sorts of different draft scenarios and win prizes for your ability to guess properly.

Learn the rules and make your picks here!

Reggie Evans’s difficult relationship with father inspires him

Posted on: June 17th, 2013 by Devin Kharpertian No Comments

 

Reggie Evans (AP)

On Father's Day, Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com spoke with Reggie Evans in a heartfelt conversation about Evans's home life, including his in-and-out of jail father, the relationship Evans attempts to forge with him, and the charity work Evans does in his hometown.

Last month, Evans hosted his eighth annual Reggie Evans BBQ For Pensacola, and will host the first annual Reggie Evans Pro Athlete Charity Softball game in Pensacola on July 13th.

Zwerling writes that Evans was raised mostly by his mother, as his father was in and out of jail while Evans grew up:

"My mom pretty much raised me," he told ESPNNewYork.com. "My daddy sold drugs and he was in and out of jail, and stuff like that. It was kind of rough. I'm just basically trying to give back to the least fortunate who don't really have nothing in life in terms of trying to succeed in life. ... As long as I'm keeping kids level-headed and just instilling hope and faith in them, I know they can make it."

Evans added that he's hoping to create a real relationship with the father who wasn't around, and how that inspired him to be the father he is:

"To be honest with you, we talk, we communicate and stuff. Things are getting better I can say. I'm feeling real real good about that," he said. "He wasn't really there for me full-time, so him not being there made me want to be there for my kids. Quality time means more than anything for them, so he helped me out a lot. I looked at it from a positive standpoint. Now, me and my daddy are cool."

Evans has three children: Amiya, 9, Alise, 6, and Reggie Jr., 1. Reggie Jr. was often in the locker room after Nets home games this season.

ESPN New York -- Relationship with father fuels Evans' work

Commercial: Inside “Magna Carta Holy Grail” with JAY Z + Samsung (VIDEO)

Posted on: June 16th, 2013 by Devin Kharpertian No Comments

 

Above: former Brooklyn Nets owner (once he officially divests his shares) Shawn Carter AKA Jay-Z's three-minute commercial run during halftime of the NBA Finals promoting his new album, Magna Carta Holy Grail. Jay-Z wears a Brooklyn Nets hat through some scenes of the commercial. According to the commercial, the album drops July 4th.

How Jason Kidd blew away Billy King

Posted on: June 15th, 2013 by Devin Kharpertian 1 Comment

 

Billy King, Jason Kidd

How it all went down. (AP)

At 41 years old, Jason Kidd isn't the youngest head coach in the NBA -- that distinction belongs to the 39-year-old Jacque Vaughn. (Indiana Pacers head coach Frank Vogel is also younger than Kidd.) But Kidd is, by far, the least experienced: no other head coach in the NBA has zero experience coaching. Even Mike Budenholzer, Steve Clifford, and Jeff Hornacek, the three others who will be brand new to head coaching next season, all spent years as assistant coaching before taking the leap.

So how did Kidd blow away Brooklyn Nets general manager Billy King in their interview, so much so that King even called Brian Shaw's agent to warn him that Kidd was "very good" before Shaw even got on the plane to Brooklyn?... MORE →

Billy King: Nets need “a lot of little pieces”

Posted on: June 15th, 2013 by Devin Kharpertian 1 Comment

 

Jason Kidd Billy King Brooklyn Nets Head Coach

King, Kidd. (AP)

After the monumental hiring of Jason Kidd as the team's next head coach, Kidd was asked if the Brooklyn Nets needed one more piece to be truly competitive.

"You'd have to ask Billy that," Kidd responded, referring to Nets general manager Billy King. So I did.... MORE →

King: expect C.J. Watson to opt out

Posted on: June 14th, 2013 by Devin Kharpertian No Comments

 

C.J. Watson (AP)

Brooklyn Nets general manager Billy King expects Nets backup point guard C.J. Watson to opt out of his contract and become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, King said on the Joe & Evan show on WFAN this morning. Watson, due to make $1.1 million next season if he exercised his option, would likely make more on the open market after his solid season.

At Brooklyn's press conference introducing Jason Kidd yesterday, I asked King what pieces he felt the Nets needed to add to improve, and the first priority he listed was shooting to space the floor. That answer would seem to indicate that King believes Watson, who shot a career-high 41.1% from three-point range this season, is moving on, and that Nets rookie Tyshawn Taylor isn't quite ready for the second-string point guard position heading into his second season.

King added that he and Kidd have already discussed potential replacements for Watson. No, Kidd is not one of them.

Kidd also said at yesterday's press conference that he's interested in exploring offensive sets with Deron Williams off the ball and either Gerald Wallace or Joe Johnson playing "point forward," skillsets both players have.

Nets to pay Kidd more than he would’ve earned as player with Knicks

Posted on: June 14th, 2013 by Devin Kharpertian No Comments

 

The Brooklyn Nets will pay head coach Jason Kidd $10.5 million over four years, with three years and $7.5 million guaranteed, reports Peter Vecsey:

Kidd had two years and $6 million remaining on his contract with the New York Knicks, but left that money to go retire. Though Kidd will make less per annum than he did with New York in the first two years, he'll make anywhere from $1.5 million to $4.5 million more over the course of the contract.

The Nets introduced Coach Kidd in a press conference at Barclays Center yesterday.

Kidd: invite to Frank is out there

Posted on: June 14th, 2013 by Devin Kharpertian 1 Comment

 

Lawrence Frank Jason Kidd

Frank, Kidd in NJ. (AP)

On an interview with Mike and Mike on ESPN this morning, new Brooklyn Nets head coach Jason Kidd confirmed that he doesn't have a staff of assistant coaches put together yet, but former New Jersey Nets coach Lawrence Frank is welcome to be his top assistant.

"The invitation is out there," Kidd said of Frank.

Frank coached Kidd throughout Kidd's entire career as a player with the Nets, first as an assistant from 2001-03, then as a head coach from 2003-08.

The Nets have acknowledged that Kidd will have a steep learning curve as a head coach, and want to surround him with top, experienced assistants. Nets general manager Billy King joked yesterday that Rasheed Wallace and Grant Hill, both recently retired NBA players, will not be joining Kidd on the sidelines.

Frank, most recently a head coach with the Detroit Pistons, was fired by the team this past year and has spent much of his time at his home in New Jersey taking care of his wife, who is sick.

Shock, desire, and movement highlight Kidd’s introductory press conference

Posted on: June 13th, 2013 by Devin Kharpertian 1 Comment

 

Jason Kidd Brooklyn Nets Coach

Brooklyn Nets coach Jason Kidd. (AP)

With dozens of cameras snapping and a basketball in Jason Kidd's hand, one photographer yelled "Coach! Over here!" towards the recently retired point guard.

Kidd, after a split second, looked in his direction, grinning. "Coach," he said. "It's coach from now on."... MORE →

Nets to introduce Jason Kidd at press conference Thursday

Posted on: June 13th, 2013 by Devin Kharpertian 1 Comment

 

Yes, it's really happening. The Brooklyn Nets will introduce Jason Kidd as their new head coach at a press conference at 2 P.M. Thursday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

The press conference will be televised live on the YES Network and streamed live on brooklynnets.com.

Kidd and Nets general manager Billy King will both speak with the media.

Jason Kidd: A risk… worth taking

Posted on: June 12th, 2013 by Devin Kharpertian 9 Comments

 

Jason Kidd

Jason Kidd (AP)

If media reports are accurate, the Brooklyn Nets are close to bringing on Jason Kidd as their next head coach. Depending on who you listen to, this is either a smart move by a franchise in need of a young, brilliant basketball mind to help them catapult their roster to the next level, or a panic move by a nostalgic franchise desperate to steal back-page coverage away from the New York Knicks.

And yeah, it's probably a little bit of both.... MORE →