DIVORCE is never easy. Not in relationships. Not in sports. And though Jason Kidd can't be totally excused for the way he orchestrated his departure from the Nets, it shouldn't taint what he brought them during his 6 1/2-year stay.
That's why it wasn't surprising when the small crowd that braved the daylong snowstorm and showed up for Kidd's first trip to the Meadowlands since the Feb. 19 trade to Dallas, gave him an appreciative salute of thanks. Kidd was the first Maverick introduced and for a good 30 seconds the crowd cheered as he stood on the court and waved back to show his appreciation. He wasn't overly sentimental about the reception, joking: "The first time I was in New Jersey that's what the crowd looked like; about 3,000 people."
The few that booed must not remember the state of the once dysfunctional franchise before Kidd's arrival in 2001-02. The Nets were an irrelevant piece of NBA furniture then, an automatic win on any opponent's schedule and a poor comparison with the nearby Knicks. But Kidd changed all that. He made the Nets exciting, operating an up-tempo style with the flair of a magician. He got them to the playoffs six straight years and to the NBA Finals twice.
New Jersey fans never fully appreciated what they had, never filled up the building when Kidd was making triple-doubles routine. He made his teammates better, made the NBA fear coming to the Meadowlands, and he beat up the Knicks like a neighborhood bully. That's why he deserved the crowd's applause last night.
"That just shows how classy New Jersey is," Kidd said. "They're true fans of the game. I was thankful they appreciated the job that I did when I was here."
There were a few No. 5 jerseys in the crowd last night, and truth is, there's not a thing for a Nets fan to complain about. Yes, it was ugly about this time last year when a frustrated Kidd accused teammates of "letting go of the rope" when times got tough and later staged a wildcat strike by sitting out a home game against the Knicks because he had a migraine. He wanted a contract extension, didn't get it and wanted out. Nets president Rod Thorn obliged him in a splendid trade that now lays the framework for the franchise's future.
The trade brought the Nets Devin Harris, a gifted 25-year-old point guard who seemed determined to torch his former team in front of his former boss, Mark Cuban. Harris, who came in averaging 23.8 points per game, had 41 points and 13 assists as the Nets cruised to an easy 121-97 win. Kidd finished with 17 points, seven assists and no regrets.
"I wish the weather was better. But besides that it was just a Basketball game," he said.
As the final seconds ticked away, the sparse crowd began chanting: "Thank you, Cuban."
Trading an aging point guard in Kidd for a terrific young talent in Harris, two first-round draft picks and cap space makes it a steal for the Nets, who are positioning themselves for the 2010 free-agent lottery.
Sometimes it takes saying goodbye to fully embrace a new beginning. That's what the Nets did last night, seeing Kidd in a blue jersey and Harris making the Izod Center his personal playground.
Someday, Kidd probably will look back and realize his best days were as a Net. Surely, the Nets realize their best days were with Kidd.
