Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Add Avery to long list of coaches Jason Kidd didn't get along with

I see where Jason Kidd, who is leading the U.S. men's basketball team to Beijing, has ripped his former coach, Avery Johnson.

Is he serious?

He reportedly got a coach fired when he was in college ( Lou Campanelli a basketball lifer). He had problems in Phoenix( Scott Skiles) , New Jersey ( Byron Scott)and Dallas (his first time with the Mavs), and now he rips a great coach in Avery Johnson.

Avery is one of the best coaches in the NBA period , a former NBA Coach of the Year, a guy who took his team to the NBA Finals, and a point guard in the league for 15 seasons.

I coached Avery at Golden State during his last year in the league. He has a remarkable basketball mind. I've never seen a player carry so much weight in the locker room. It wasn't always easy coaching Avery that last year because he had an opinion on how he thought the game should be played and coached. But he was professional and respectful about it he was great for our team and I'm a big fan of his .

It's hard to please a veteran player who is past his prime. It also demonstrates how little respect and understanding Kidd has for coaches and the coaching profession.