Jason Kidd: The Best Point Guard in the Decade

The best point guard of the decade? Let's examine what makes Jason Kidd a strong candidate.

From many facets of Kidd's game, we can conclude that Jason Kidd is the best point guard in the first decade of the 21st century. Regarding team record, before Kidd came to the New Jersey Nets, the Nets' record was 26 wins and 56 losses. The season Kidd left the Nets, the Nets won only 34 games and lost 48 games. In his years in New Jersey, Kidd was the core of the Nets for 6 seasons and the Nets made the playoffs in all those 6 year. Moreover, the Nets won the eastern conference champion two consecutive years. During those two years, his most competent teammate was merely Kenyon Martin.

Statistically, he surpassed bout Magic Johnson and Mark Jackson to become the player with the second most assists in the league history, after the godlike John Stockton. In the meantime, Jason Kidd's number of assists per game ranks number 6 in the league history. Kidd also ranks No. 7 in total steals in NBA history, No. 3 in number of triple doubles and No. 5 in three point field goals made. All these stats came from this decade.

After 2000, Kidd made the all star team seven times, the league's first team 3 times and the league first defensive team 3 times. Even though he did not win an MVP, Kidd was runner up one time in league's MVP voting. The one that he barely lost, should have been his instead of Tim Duncan's because Kidd clearly had a better season than Duncan.

Talking about individual ability, there is no one in the history of NBA who is better than him in using passing and assists to win games. His ability to adapt and his well-rounded skill sets are also unprecedented. From the Dallas Mavericks to the New Jersey Nets and back to Dallas, no matter what game plans, strategies, pace or lineup he is in, Kidd can adapt and lead his team very quickly. Kidd is known to have the ability to make his teammates much better. Kenyon Martin and Mikki Moore's big contracts are all thanks to Jason Kidd. Kidd's defense is also one of the top in the league. In the position of point guard, only Walt Frazier and Gary Payton had better defense than Kidd. In fact, other than jump shots, we cannot find any flaws in his skill sets.

True, Jason Kidd is not a perfect point guard. But he is closer to perfect than another other point guard in this decade.