Jason Kidd sits as the lone player earning All-Defensive First Team for the Nets.
The Brooklyn Nets have had some elite defensive players donning their jersey, and there have been occasions in which they have been recognized among the best defenders in The Association. Here are the instances in which Nets players have been named to the All-Defense 1st NBA Team in league history.
Jason Kidd – 2002
Jason Kidd made the All-Defense 1st NBA Team four times in his career, although the first two came as a member of the Phoenix Suns. The first time he achieved this was during the 2001-02 season, his eighth campaign in the NBA and first with the Nets. In a year in which Kidd was also named to the 1st All-NBA Team and the All-Star Game while finishing in second place in the MVP race, Kidd led New Jersey to a 52-30 record, good for first place in the Atlantic Division, while averaging 14.7 points, 9.9 assists, 7.3 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game across 82 regular-season starts. The Nets reached the NBA Finals that season but were swept by the Lakers.
Jason Kidd – 2006
Kidd was named to the All-Defense 2nd NBA Team for three consecutive seasons, from 2002-03 to 2004-05, and made the All-Star Game twice during that span. However, he returned to the All-Defense 1st NBA Team in 2005-06, his fifth year with the New Jersey franchise. Even though that was the only accolade Kidd received that season, it showed that he remained an elite defender even in his 12th year in The Association. Starting in all but two games in the regular season, Kidd finished the 2005-06 campaign with averages of 13.3 points, 8.4 assists, 7.3 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game. The Nets reached the Eastern Conference Semifinals, where they lost to the future champions, the Miami Heat.
