VIDEO: Joe Johnson says last year's Nets 'practiced, but, you know, not really'
In Jason Kidd's tumultuous first season as an NBA coach, he apparently didn't ask much from his veteran squad in terms of practice.
At Brooklyn Nets media day on Friday, Seven-Time All-Star Joe Johnson revealed that last year's team practiced little under Kidd. After bringing up the changes to the coaching staff and predicting the season "should be fun," Johnson was asked a question about new head coach Lionel Hollins' practice habits.
"I've heard he (new head coach Lionel Hollins) loves practice," Johnson said. "And you right, Jason Kidd, we practiced, but, you know, not really."
While the comment was made in jest and with laughter, it's at least a little understandable. The Nets were the league's third-oldest team last season and were flush with veteran experience, and so Kidd could site rest and injury concerns as a reason for light sessions. Even as he tried to install his own system - which included a mid-season change in philosophy and style after Brook Lopez was injured - it's possible he trusted the experience of the squad to carry the lessons to games with ease.
In Milwaukee, where Kidd was traded this offseason, he'll once again be installing new principles, this time with a much younger squad. Something tells us that the Bucks will be practicing plenty.
You can view the Johnson interview and more from Nets media day in the video below: