Byron Scott Describes Jason Kidd As “Being An A–Hole” When Coaching Him
Jason Kidd and Byron Scott will be coaching against each other for the first time when the Lakers play the Bucks on Wednesday night.
Scott coached Kidd on the New Jersey Nets for four years, which brought about two NBA Finals appearances between 2000 and 2004, before Scott was eventually fired during a struggling season in ’04. Kidd obviously had his coaching stint with the Nets, now of Brooklyn, for one season before taking off for Milwaukee before this season. Kidd’s Bucks are currently sixth in the Eastern Conference.
When asked about his former player, Byron Scott was candid enough about his thoughts on Kidd at the time and how their relationship is now.
From Bill Oram of the Orange Country Register:
Reporter asks Byron Scott about coaching JKidd, who was known as a “unique personality.” Scott: “He was kind of known as being an a–hole.”
Asked about his relationship with Jason Kidd, Byron Scott said, “Cordial. And that’s about as good as it’s gonna get, too.“
On reports Kidd conspired to get [Scott] fired: “That’s all I’ve heard. Now did he actually go and talk to Rod Thorn & those guys? I don’t know.”
Plenty of people took Scott’s firing in 2004 as Kidd’s doing, and based on these words from Scott, they clearly weren’t ever pals (notice he said that Kidd was “known as being an a–hole”, but took no action to defend such knowings).
Now these two will have a chance to compete as coaching opponents.
