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JASON KIDD, ROD THORN NAMED TO BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME

By Net Income
NYDN

In a fitting irony, Jason Kidd, the Nets greatest player in the NBA era, and Rod Thorn, the general manager who brought him to New Jersey, were named Saturday to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.

The enshrinement will take place Friday, September 7.

Kidd, one of the game’s great point guards, played six plus seasons for the Nets, arriving by a trade from the Suns that was engineered by Thorn in July 2001. He is the 10th Nets players to be honored.

In those six seasons in New Jersey, Kidd led the Nets to two Eastern Conference championships in 2002 and 2003, made the NBA All-Star team three times and the All-NBA team three times. He also named to the All-Defensive team five times as a Net.

Of his 107 triple-doubles, 61 were recorded as a Net. During his time with New Jersey, Kidd averaged 14.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 9.1 assists in 506 games. He is arguably the best player in franchise history – the only competition being Julius Erving in the team’s ABA days.

Overall, Kidd finished second in assists (12,091) and steals (2,684) and third in 3-pointers made (1,988). He also won two gold medals at the 2000 and 2008 Olympics and an NBA championship with the Mavericks. One notable measure of his success across the NBA is this statistic: The last time the Nets, Knicks and Mavericks won more than 50 games, Kidd was their point guard.

Kidd tweeted out his appreciation not long after the announcement...

As did the Nets, with whom he had an ugly falling-out following his one year as head coach in 2013-14.

Rod Thorn, the man who brought Kidd to the Nets, will also be enshrined. Thorn was GM of the Nets from 2000 to 2010, winning Executive of the Year in 2001-2 for his work in putting together the first of two Nets Finals teams. He is best known for his decision in June 1984, while GM of the Bulls, to draft Michael Jordan with the third pick in the NBA Draft.

Although he never matched that draft pick with New Jersey, he did engineer two of the most lop-sided trades in recent memory if not NBA history, getting Kidd in 2001, then Vince Carter in 2004. The Kidd trade was viewed as somewhat even when it happened: Kidd, Johnny Newman and Soumalia Samaki went to Phoenix for Stephon Marbury and Chris Dudley. Kidd was four years older than Marbury who had an All-Star in 2001. The Carter trade, however, was seen as a big win from Day 1. Carter was acquired for Alonzo Mourning, Eric Williams, Aaron Williams and two of three three first round picks Thorn had acquired in the Nets trade of Kenyon Martin to the Nuggets. Bruce Ratner, the team’s new owner, had overpaid for the Nets and was looking to save money.

Kidd, Carter and Kenyon Martin, who Thorn had drafted No. 1 in the 2000 Draft, combined for seven all-star appearances.

Thorn was also responsible for the trade that brought Richard Jefferson and Jason Collins, two stalwarts of the Nets Finals runs.

Thorn expressed his appreciation through the Hoops Hall...

The Nets congratulated Thorn as well.

As did his longtime No. 2, Bobby Marks...

Fans who want to attend the Hoops Hall ceremonies can find answers to their questions at the Hall of Fame Class of 2018 page. The Nets are also offering fans a chance to win a trip to Springfield for the enshrinement.

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