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Kidd returns to Nets' starting lineup
After missing the first 18 games of the season, Jason Kidd was in the starting lineup Monday night for the last-place New Jersey Nets against the Toronto Raptors.
Kidd had been sidelined since undergoing surgery on his left knee in July.
"There are no butterflies. I've been doing this too long," the 10-year veteran said.
Coach Lawrence Frank said he would limit Kidd's minutes, though he wouldn't specify how much.
New Jersey used three different starters — Jacque Vaughn, Zoran Planinic and Travis Best — at point guard during Kidd's absence. The Nets are the NBA's lowest-scoring team, averaging 83.4 points, and average more turnovers (17.6) than every team except Chicago. New Jersey also ranks last in assists.
"You are going to see a huge change in our game," Nets center Alonzo Mourning said. "It's my own biased opinion, but he's the best point guard in the world, and when you have the best point guard in the world you know you are going to get open shots. It's just a matter of you capitalizing off his strength."
Kidd was displeased by the Nets' offseason trades of Kenyon Martin and Kerry Kittles, economically motivated moves that were made after the team was sold to developer Bruce Ratner.
New Jersey, which went to the NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003 and came within a game of reaching the Eastern Conference finals last season, opened the season with just four wins in its first 16 games.
Kidd has been coy about clearly stating whether he has a desire to be traded from a franchise whose long-term plans include a move to Brooklyn in 2007.
Two summers ago, Kidd turned down an offer to join the San Antonio Spurs as a free agent and instead signed a six-year, $103 million contract with the Nets.
But after Martin was dealt for three first-round draft picks and Kittles was traded for a second-round pick, Kidd and the Nets were no longer a championship caliber team.
Trade speculation has been steady, with Minnesota, Dallas and Portland mentioned most as Kidd's possible future destinations.
"My job is to help this team win ballgames. The business side will take care of itself," Kidd said. "Yesterday, they had odds (on a trade). That was kind of interesting."
Kidd said he had been practicing at full speed for two weeks and had not experienced any setbacks.
A seven-time All-Star and five-time NBA assists champion, Kidd was selected first-team All-NBA for the fifth time last season. He ranks fourth in career assists per game (9.4) behind Magic Johnson, John Stockton and Oscar Robertson. His 59 career triple-doubles ties him with Larry Bird for fourth on the career list.
Over his 10-year career, Kidd has averaged 14.8 points and 6.4 rebounds in 720 games. He has averaged 16.3 points, 9.3 assists and 6.7 rebounds since coming to New Jersey for the 2001-2002 season.
To make room for Kidd, the Nets placed forward Awvee Storey on the injured list with a strained right hamstring. |
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