Jason Kidd retired from the game just last season, but don’t expect Jeter to go into coaching.
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Jason Kidd first entered the New York market in 2001 when Derek Jeter had just turned 27 and was two years shy of becoming the Yankee captain.
Kidd didn’t have quite the same success as Jeter did but did guide the Nets to their most successful period as an NBA franchise and like Jeter he was a captain of the team.
So when asked for his thoughts about Derek Jeter deciding to retire after the 2014 season, Kidd offered his own compliments.
“He’s one of the best to play as a Yankee for that time and to be able to deliver each time, so he’s everyone’s role model,” Kidd said before Wednesday’s game against Charlotte. “As kids grow up playing baseball, wanting to play shortstop, they want to be Derek Jeter.
“So this will be his last year and everyone will miss him. But he had a great run and hopefully he can end it on a positive note.”
The Nets and Yankees are connected in small ways. The Nets’ games are broadcasted on the YES Network, the same as the Yankees, and the team has used Yankee Stadium to play softball games over the years in the offseason.
Kidd not concerned about rest for Johnson
Joe Johnson is heading to the All-Star Game and participating in his second 3-point shootout. While the weekend in New Orleans can be hectic with various events, rest doesn’t seem to be a concern for the shooting guard, who leads the team in minutes played and leads active Nets in scoring.
“It’s not like he’s going to play 35 minutes,” Kidd said. “He can go down and relax, have fun with his family and friends and enjoy what New Orleans has to offer and then get ready for the second half of the season.”
Johnson spent the Nets’ last practice session simulating the contest. He mimicked the event by shooting from the racks while being timed.
“I’m trying to beat my score,” Johnson said. “When I did [the 3-point contest] when I was in Phoenix, I made seven. I can be happy if I just beat that.”
Johnson also spent the session working with the new rule where contestants have the all “money-ball” rack that can be positioned at any of the five stations behind the 3-point line.
“I wanted [the “money-ball” rack] to be the corner,” Johnson said. “But I don’t want it to be the first shot and it can’t be the last because I don’t know how long it’s gonna take me to get [through all the racks]. It might just be the second right on the half. We’ll see.”
Johnson previously participated in the event during the 2004-05 season with the Suns. He did not practice beforehand and finished next-to-last with eight points.
“I just felt, you know, I’ll go up there and I’ll make shots,” Johnson said. “And our last game before the All-Star break was a Wednesday, so we didn’t play Thursday. I didn’t do nothing Thursday, Friday, Saturday until I got to the 3-point competition. So that’s two or three days without touching a basketball. I don’t know how you’re gonna win a competition like that.”
Follow Nets beat writer Larry Fleisher on Twitter @LarryFleisher.
