Nets head coach Jason Kidd has jersey retired by the team (video)

One of the best players in the history of the New Jersey (now Brooklyn) Nets is their current head coach, Jason Kidd. Appropriately, the Nets have chosen to raise Kidd’s number 5 jersey to the rafters in the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, and tonight, the team held a ceremony while their head coach looked on. Here’s a look at the video:

Kidd only played 6 seasons over 19 years with the Nets, but he carried them to 2 NBA Finals appearances and was arguably the best player in the NBA while doing so. Over his time in New Jersey, the 6-foot-4 point guard averaged more than 9 assists per game, but it was his all-court presence that made him one of the biggest triple-double threats in league history.

Frankly, it seems a bit odd to see this type of ceremony held during a preseason game, but it also makes a bit of sense. Sending Kidd’s jersey to the rafters before a game that means something would have put him in the awkward position of having to fight emotions while preparing to do his job as a (brand new) head coach, and that would be unfortunate.

Either way, the Nets got it right, and one of their legends has been recognized as such.