Brooklyn Nets Blog – Page 141 – NBA Blog

Jason Kidd Closes In On Michael Jordan

During New Jersey’s 99-88 victory against Seattle last night, Jason Kidd grabbed five rebounds, pushing his career total to 6,605. Only Oscar Robertson [7,804], Clyde Drexler [6,677] and Michael Jordan [6,672] are ahead of him.

Kidd -who has averaged no fewer than six boards per game since 1997-98, and is tied for 29th [first among guards] with 8.7 rpg this season- should be passing both MJ and ‘Clyde The Glide’ over the next nine games.

Kidd’s resume includes 14,117 points, 9,056 assists [6th, but only five dimes behind Isiah Thomas], and 1,960 steals [11th]. He is, far and away, the modern leader with 97 regular season triple-doubles [3rd overall, behind Robertson’s 181 and Magic Johnson’s 138].

The game against the Sonics was never in doubt and, thus, Kidd [who also tallied 16 points and 11 assists] was benched for the final 12 1/2 minutes. He appeared to be in line for his 11th triple-double of the season, after collecting eight points, five assists and four rebounds in the opening quarter.

Kidd entered with a string of three consecutive triple-doubles. Jordan, in 1989, was the last player to have four straight. The NBA record is nine, by Wilt Chamberlain in 1967-68.

Kidd third straight triple-double

The AP reports: Jason Richardson scored 25 points and the hot-shooting Charlotte Bobcats overcame Jason Kidd’s third consecutive triple-double to beat the New Jersey Nets 115-99 on Wednesday night. Gerald Wallace added 21 points and 11 rebounds and Emeka Okafor and Nazr Mohammed added 17 points apiece for the Bobcats, who shot 59 percent in their highest-scoring game of the season… The Nets had their five-game winning streak snapped despite Kidd’s 13 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists. He became the first player since Detroit’s Grant Hill 11 seasons ago to have three straight triple-doubles.

Nets waive Billy Thomas

InsideHoops.com NewsWire: The New Jersey Nets have requested waivers on guard Billy Thomas, Nets President Rod Thorn announced today.

Thomas, who signed with the Nets on December 24, 2007, scored two points in four games with New Jersey. Prior to signing with the Nets, Thomas played for the Colorado 14ers of the NBA Development League.

That was quick.

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No Nets in Brooklyn until 2010 at earliest

The AP reports: The Nets will play most or all of the 2009-10 N.B.A. season in New Jersey instead of in their new arena in Brooklyn, a team spokesman said Thursday. The spokesman, Barry Baum, said the Nets could begin the 2009-10 season at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J., and then move to Brooklyn in the first half of 2010. The Nets had planned to play in their new arena starting in 2009. But in October, the Nets’ principal owner, Bruce Ratner, said the arena, to be called the Barclays Center, probably would not be ready by the start of that season.

Nets name Kiki Vandeweghe ‘special assistant to president’

InsideHoops.com NewsWire: The New Jersey Nets have named Kiki Vandeweghe Special Assistant to the President, Nets President Rod Thorn announced today. His duties will include working closely with Thorn in preparing for the 2008 NBA Draft and in the evaluation of current and future player personnel.

“We are very pleased to welcome Kiki to the Nets,” said Thorn. “Kiki has been a mainstay in the league for almost two decades, first as an All-Star player and then as a front office executive. His experience in both areas will be an invaluable asset to the franchise, and we look forward to his contributions.”

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Nets sign Billy Thomas

The New Jersey Nets have signed free agent guard Billy Thomas, Nets President Rod Thorn announced today. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not released.

The 6’5” Thomas played in 12 games this season for the Colorado 14ers of the NBA Development League, averaging 14.9 points 4.7 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game.

Now in his second stint with the Nets, Thomas played in 25 games with New Jersey in 2004-05, averaging 3.7 points and 1.4 rebounds per game. The following season (2005-06), Thomas appeared in 17 games with the Washington Wizards. Over his two NBA seasons, Thomas has posted career averages of 3.1 points and 1.2 rebounds in 42 games.

Following his four-year career at the University of Kansas, Thomas’ basketball travels have included stops in Argentina, the IBL, the Philippines, Italy, the CBA, and a previous two-year stint in the D-League with Greenville.

Nets waive Eddie Gill

The New Jersey Nets have requested waivers on guard Eddie Gill, Nets President Rod Thorn announced today.

Gill, who signed with the Nets on November 16, 2007, appeared in 13 games, averaging 2.9 points 1.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.

76ers finally boot Billy King, hire Ed Stefanski

Years after many expected, the Philadelphia 76ers have finally fired general manager Billy King, and have replaced him with Ed Stefanski, who had been the Nets general manager for the last nine seasons.

King seemed to be content building the 76ers around players that are nice, but not true building blocks. Allen Iverson was never really surrounded with anything close to top talent, and the current Sixers basically have to build around Andre Iguodala, who is a budding star but isn’t expected to ever be a top-tier superstar.

The team is in full rebuild mode — or at least they should be — and Stefanski is a good hire.

Check the regular non-blog portion of InsideHoops.com for more details about this news.

Nets need more home fans

The Newark Star-Ledger reports: Entering the weekend, the Nets were 22nd in home attendance — their average draw being 14,770, which represents an average capacity of 73.9 percent at Izod Center. And as further proof that the Nets are less appreciated by New Jersey basketball enthusiasts than by others around the league, consider this: They are also third in road attendance (average: 18,347), and second-best in the NBA in filling buildings, with an average capacity of 95.5 percent.

Kenyon Martin knee issues continue: MRI scheduled for Monday

Nuggets F Kenyon Martin did not play in the second half of last night’s game in Houston due to a right knee strain. He is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Monday, after which his status will be determined.

Martin this season in 13 games has been averaging just 8.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 0.5 assists in 22.2 minutes. Injuries limited him to just 56 games in 2005-06 and only two in 2006-07.