By Jon Carlos Rodriguez

Jason Kidd is turning 45 this week, so what better time to celebrate his career and see how his legacy stands next to one of his greatest teammates turned PG rival, Steve Nash. Kidd versus Nash—who was better?

Elfrid Payton and Devin Booker make up an exciting backcourt in Phoenix, but there was a time when the Suns’ starting guards, Jason Kidd and Steve Nash, defined what an exciting backcourt truly was in the NBA.

Kidd and Nash were teammates for about one and a half seasons, then moved on to lead their respective teams to deep, respectable playoff runs. Because the two are also always in the Best Point Guards of All-Time debate, this question must be asked: who was better?

First, let’s get the boring parts out of the way: Who won the more championships? Kidd.

Who won the more MVP trophies? Nash.

Kidd is second in the NBA’s assist leaders in history (12,091 assists); Nash is third (10,335 assists).

Now on to the more important criteria—such as, who had the better hair?

HAIR

Kidd tried the blonde thing when he was in Phoenix, then went bald the rest of the way. Better hair easily goes to the guy who goes by the nickname “Hair Canada,” whether he sported the flowy locks down in Phoenix or rocked the hipster cut in LA.

Winner: Nash

 

SHOES

Nash may have the hair, but Kidd’s sneaker game got the crown when the Nike Air Zoom Flight dropped in ’95.

Winner: Kidd

 

RAP REFERENCE

“I’m just kidding like Jason.” – Hot in Herre by Nelly

“They calling me samurai the way I chop the top, Steve Nash, I pass the rock.” Peek A Boo by Migos

Nash’s shout outs seem to always have drug-related innuendos, so Kidd wins here. Bonus points to him for his own rap track, “What the Kidd Did.”

Winner: Kidd

 

POST-NBA GIG

Kidd got fired from his coaching gig in Milwaukee while Nash keeps winning as a player development consultant for the defending champs Golden State Warriors.

Winner: Nash

 

ACTING JOB

Aside from passing wizardry, Nash also has great talent in acting. Remember Horry’s hip check in 2007? Nash sold that as if Horry was the Hulk. Kidd, on the other hand, was a more cerebral actor, in that he was able to pull off a stunt so contrived, it looked stupid on replay. But it worked.

Winner: Kidd

When it comes to the shoe game, rep references, and a career in acting, looks like Jason Kidd is the better player. Happy birthday JKidd!

 

 

___________________________