Phoenix Suns: Can Rubio and Booker be the next “Backcourt 2000”?
By Ronald Agers
Kidd’s time in Phoenix started Hall of Fame narrative
By the end of the 1996-97 season, Jason Kidd had fallen out of favor with the Dallas Mavericks and was shipped to the Phoenix Suns in a trade. At the time, the Suns front office looked like geniuses as Kidd produced immediately, starting 23 of 33 games, averaging 11.5 points, 9.0 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 2.4 steals.
He continued the all around brilliance that landed him the co-NBA Rookie of the Year award with Grant Hill.
Kidd played all 82 games the next season and kept the productive pace he set the previous year tallying up 11.6 points, 9.1 assists, 6.2 rebounds and 2.0 steals. His play made Steve Nash expendable, as Nash was dealt to the Mavericks.
With Nash gone and Kevin Johnson passing the torch with his retirement, Jason Kidd started his Hall of Fame legacy, leading the Suns to playoff contention with his stat stuffing play and triple-doubles.
Jason Kidd had successfully transitioned the franchise from the KJ era at point guard. The Suns were a good team, but wasn’t perceived as championship contenders.
All of that changed with the acquisition of Penny Hardaway to form Backcourt 2000.