Ranking the 50 greatest NBA players of all time

40. Jason Kidd

• Resume: 19 seasons, 1 NBA championship, 6-time All-NBA selection, 10-time NBA All-Star, 9-time NBA All-Defensive Team, Rookie of the Year Award, 5-time NBA leader in assists, NBA’s second all-time assists leader, NBA’s second all-time steals leader, Hall-of-Famer
• Stats: 12.6 PPG, 8.7 APG, 6.3 RPG, 1.9 SPG , .400/.349/.785 shooting splits, 17.9 career PER, 138.6 win shares

Despite having only one title to his name, Jason Kidd knew what it took to win in the NBA more than a good number of players on this list. As a regular triple-double threat and passing visionary during his prime, Kidd elevated the play of every single team he ever joined in his 19-year career, which is quite an impressive feat considering he played for four different teams.

After finishing with a 13-69 record the year prior, the Dallas Mavericks went 36-46 in their first season with Kidd. In his first full season with the Phoenix Suns, Kidd helped the team improve by 16 wins from the year before. After the Suns dumped him in the wake of domestic abuse charges, Kidd led the New Jersey Nets to 52 wins — a 26-game improvement from the year before.

Even past his prime, Kidd served a vital defensive and facilitator role with the 2011 champion Dallas Mavericks. He even helped lead the New York Knicks to 54 wins at age 40, an 18-game win improvement from the year before.

He’s the second all-time leader in assists, second all-time in steals, 10th all-time in made 3s and one of the most badass white boys to ever rock a bleached afro. He led two New Jersey Nets teams to the Finals by virtue of playing in the East, but his status as one of the greatest team players of all time is unquestionable, especially with his 2018 enshrinement in the Hall of Fame.