Jason Kidd and Kyrie Irving have quite a bit in common. Kidd is and was a Nets franchise legend, while Irving wore out his welcome with ownership and the fan base before he even came close to reaching that stature.
Kidd spearheaded a run to consecutive NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003. His best chance came in 2003 facing the San Antonio Spurs. The Nets went back home to New Jersey with the series tied 1-1 and three straight games at the Meadowlands.
The Nets were only able to win one out of three and went back to San Antonio for Game 6 with a thirteen point third quarter lead.
That game slipped out of their grasp with San Antonio's bench, led by Speedy Claxton, pulling the Spurs to the finish line.
Kidd tried to gut things out in the 2004 season despite requiring microfracture surgery. Kidd essentially played through the injury and push surgery off until the offseason.
The Nets were dethroned as the two-time reigning Eastern Conference champions by the eventual champion Detroit Pistons.
After that, ownership turns its attention to a potential move to Brooklyn and was unwilling to resign Kidd's critical running mate in Kenyon Martin.
Former Executive of the Year Rod Thorn swung a blockbuster deal to replace the sign and traded Harden with a disgruntled superstar from Toronto and Vince Carter.
The Nets had some success but ultimately could not break through in an Eastern Conference with the Miami Heat featuring Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O'Neal gatekeeping as well as LeBron James and the Cavaliers.
Eventually, Kidd grew disillusioned with the direction of the franchise and was ultimately traded to the Mavericks.
Kyrie in the other hand, was supposed to be a leader for Brooklyn, but instead created limitless distractions for himself and the organization. He engaged in wars with the media at large.
The Nets fell laughably short of their lofty goals. So, to compare Kidd's tenure with the Nets to Irving's is an insult to Kidd's legacy.
After his trade from the Nets, Kidd won a ring with Dallas in 2010-11 behind Dirk Nowitzki's greatness against Miami's big three of Wade, James and Chris Bosh.
Now, Irving can do the same behind Doncic's greatness with the very and franchise.
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