Jason Kidd recognized LeBron James and Nikola Jokic as the 2 present NBA gamers whose passing capability and basketball intelligence most carefully resemble his personal sport throughout his enjoying profession.
Requested by All-Star Journal which NBA participant sees the ground in addition to he did throughout his Corridor of Fame profession, Kidd initially referenced Jokic earlier than choosing James because the closest stylistic comparability.
“I’ve talked concerning the Joker, however because you introduced LeBron up, I might say LeBron’s sport might be my sport is the closest to LeBron, regardless that his sport is at a distinct altitude,” Kidd stated.
Kidd pointed particularly to James’ capability to create alternatives for teammates and anticipate performs earlier than they develop. “He has the power to make performs for his teammates, his IQ, understanding what’s going to occur earlier than it occurs, is extraordinarily excessive,” Kidd stated.
Kidd finally grouped James and Jokic collectively when discussing the traits that outlined his personal strategy as a participant. “I might say these are the 2 gamers, while you discuss passing and simply their basketball IQ,” he stated.
The comparability carries specific weight as a result of Kidd completed his enjoying profession with 12,091 assists, rating second in NBA historical past on the time of his retirement and remaining among the many league’s all-time leaders. He additionally averaged 8.7 assists per sport over 19 NBA seasons and led the league in assists 5 occasions.
Kidd additionally mentioned James’ transfer to the Philadelphia 76ers, calling it the offseason transaction most definitely to have the most important affect on the 2026-27 NBA season. James signed with Philadelphia on a two-year minimum-salary contract, with a participant possibility for the second season.
“It routinely places Philly within the talks of profitable a championship,” Kidd stated. “They may very well be the very best crew within the East.”
Philadelphia completed 45-37 and seventh within the Japanese Convention in the course of the 2025-26 common season earlier than defeating Boston 4-3 within the first spherical of the playoffs. The 76ers have been then swept by the New York Knicks within the convention semifinals.
Kidd additionally cited Philadelphia’s younger backcourt, particularly Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, as a part of the explanation he believes the James addition may have such a major affect. Maxey averaged 28.3 factors and 6.6 assists in 70 video games final season, whereas Edgecombe averaged 16.0 factors, 5.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 75 video games.
Kidd additionally named Giannis Antetokounmpo’s transfer to the Miami Warmth as his “1B” offseason transfer, placing Miami among the many groups he considers championship contenders.
The Dallas Mavericks coach moreover mentioned Cooper Flagg, whom he coached after the Mavericks chosen the Duke ahead No. 1 general within the 2025 NBA Draft. Kidd stated Flagg is “on tempo” to achieve the extent of gamers equivalent to James due to his competitiveness, work ethic and willingness to embrace stress.
