2. Jason Kidd
Jason Kidd of the Brooklyn Nets helped lead their revolution.
Jason Kidd is one of the greatest point guards in NBA history, so he was obviously going to fall pretty high on this list. If you wanted to quickly summarize his impact on the then-New Jersey Nets, you could simply say that he transformed them into perennial title contenders after taking over for Stephon Marbury.
The Nets went to the playoffs in six of the seven seasons that Kidd was orchestrating the offense. That run included two Finals losses and three appearances in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Those teams were famously labeled postseason chokers for their failure to deliver a single championship with a star-studded roster, but that was no fault of Kidd’s.
In 506 games with New Jersey, Kidd averaged 14.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 9.1 assists and 1.9 steals per contest. The Hall of Fame point guard was named an All-Star five times with the Nets and ranks near the top of every major statistical category in franchise history. That includes being first in three-pointers made, total assists, steals, assists per game and triple-doubles. He also ranks second in minutes and fifth in points.
Delivering a world championship would’ve put Kidd on a pedestal all by himself as the undisputed greatest player in Nets history. However, the lack of a ring creates a distinction between the 10-time All-Star and the No. 1 player on this list.