Dallas Mavericks Head Coach Jason Kidd, one of the greatest point guards in NBA history, recently reflected on the role of a playmaking guard in today’s game, drawing a playful comparison between his late-career stint as a shooting guard for the New York Knicks and the current responsibilities of his star player, Kyrie Irving.
Kidd, a master facilitator throughout his career, was quick to laugh off any direct parallel between the two situations, pointing to the stark difference in their ages at the time.
“I wish that was a fair comparison. But I was old,” Kidd quipped.
The Ageless Art of Playmaking
Despite the humorous age gap, Kidd’s analysis of Irving’s effectiveness at the shooting guard (or ‘2-guard’) spot goes beyond scoring, highlighting Irving’s elite basketball IQ and selflessness—traits Kidd himself embodied.
Irving is universally celebrated for his spectacular scoring ability, particularly his mastery of finishing around the basket.Kidd acknowledges this primary strength but emphasizes the often-understated aspect of Irving’s game: his court vision and passing.
“Everybody looks at him as a scorer or one of the best ever able to finish in the paint; and with his other strength he just knows how to play the right way,” Kidd stated. “And so he can pass and find the open guy and where it’s no stress of trying to make the right play.”
For Kidd, Irving’s ability to facilitate is a natural extension of his understanding of the game, rather than a forced obligation.
Shared Philosophy: Flow and Continuity
The most significant thread connecting Kidd’s old-school wisdom to Irving’s modern brilliance is a mutual appreciation for ball movement and team flow. Kidd points out that Irving actively demands a collaborative style of play, making him an invaluable teammate.
“The comparison with me with the Knicks and him here is about 9 years?” Kidd noted, referencing the time difference between their two playing roles. “But when you talk about that, he knows how to play the right way, he likes the flow, he wants the ball to move; he wants continuity and so he makes it a lot of fun to play with him because everyone’s live and I think that’s what they enjoy when they’re out there with Ky. They enjoy playing that way.”Kidd’s comments reveal the joy players find in sharing the court with an elite talent who prioritizes ball movement. When a star like Irving encourages flow and continuity, it makes every player on the floor a scoring threat—or “live,” as Kidd put it—creating a dynamic and effective offense that ultimately relies on the timeless principles of basketball: passing, movement, and teamwork.
