Jason Kidd already has his space carved out in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He was inducted as a player back in 2018. Now he has a second space, as he was honored this weekend alongside members of the 2008 U.S. Men’s National Team, nicknamed “The Redeem Team” that swept through the Beijing Summer Olympics to restore the gold back to the United States.
The team, which included the late Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Chris Paul, Deron Williams and others. The team was coached by legendary Duke coach Mike Kryzewski, and assembled to lead the United States back to glory after a disappointing showing in the 2004 Olympics ended the Americans’ streak of consecutive Olympic golds.
The team did so in dominant fashion, winning their five pool play games by an average score of more than 32 points per game. In the tournament they went on to beat Australia by 30, Argentina by 20 and won one of the most entertaining gold medal games in history, defeating Spain 118=107.
“It’s a great honor to go to the Hall of Fame on this team,” Jason said. “When you talk about those names – Kobe, LeBron, Wade, Melo and also coach K, being able to play for him. It’s an honor.”
Jason prided himself on leading that team by example, but letting his talented teammates do the scoring. He famously didn’t take a single shot for most of the games in Beijing despite starting at point guard.
“For myself, my goals were a little different. I was the ballboy,” he joked. “It wasn’t easy, but we had a lot of fun, just to be able to represent your country.”
J-Kidd, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, retired from international play after those Olympics with a pristine 46-0 record in FIBA play.