Racking Up Assists Like Jason Kidd

There are point guards who can pass, and then there are point guards who can pass. Some younger point guards are often mentioned for their fancy passes and great court vision. Jason Kidd has the skills of a great passer, but he's got that extra something that allows him to make passes that nobody else would have seen. He's got that sixth sense that can make him pass.

It was just on Sunday that Jason Kidd was playing against the Toronto Raptors, and in the third quarter he dished it to Brandon Bass for a jump shot and Kidd recorded his 10,000th assist and hit that milestone, which he shares with three other players. Magic Johnson, Mark Jackson and John Stockton.

This milestone Kidd achieved is a fantasy for many point guards. I'll bet that anybody could wish they could have that special ability that Kidd has to see the floor to become a better passer. I definitely do not know what that special ability Kidd has, but I can help you become from a passer, to a passer.

1. Tunnel Vision

Many point guards are frustrated because they can only focus on one side of the court. For some players, it seems like they've got tunnel vision because they just can't get themselves to scan the court and find the open pass. The reason behind this is because some point guards want to get the ball to their star player for the assist, but that player is either being guarded well or double-teamed. They try to focus on that star player and somehow make a nice pass to him that seems improbable.

If you can't make a pass to somebody, stop, scan the court, and look at your teammates. Your teammates know when a good pass will be good, because they are the one who is being guarded, so they can show you when to pass. Better vision of the court is just one step closer to being a better passer.

2. Fancy looks good, but does it get the job done?

This is a recurring problem with a lot of point guards. They have a great opportunity to make a fancy and difficult pass and make the crowd go wow, but wouldn't it be easier to just make a simple, quick pass that gets the job done much easier?

Fancy passes have a line that can be crossed. A nice no-look pass is a great way to throw off the defense and is one of those fancy passes that can be used during the game. But if you are closing your eyes and then faking a behind-the-back pass and then passing it through your legs, that's definitely crossing the line. I know I'm exaggerating it, but my point is that you can rack up assists easier by making a simple bounce pass to your teammate.

3. Know Your Teammates

What I mean by this is you have to know your teammates preferences. If your teammate likes receiving the ball up high at the top of the key, keep that in mind and pass it to him that way when you are in that situation. That extra little detail can help your teammate score, which makes assists even easier for you.

Also, try and figure out what your teammates tend to do in certain situations. If he likes cutting backdoor while being defended tightly, expect him to do that which makes it easier for you to decide where to pass. All these little details can help you out.

4. Growing That Sixth Sense

The three previous steps can make you an amazing passer, but to reach that top step of being a great passer is just a matter of knowing.

This last step of being a passer can be difficult for point guards, because it can take more than practicing. Sometimes, it just comes down to have great awareness of situations. When Jason Kidd makes great passes, he see things other players don't, because he can process in his mind, who's around him, where they are and then he can figure out who he should pass too in a split second. Being a great passer is being a player who can be aware of a situation and know what to do.

10,000 isn't too far away

Jason Kidd has been in the league for a long time. I'm proud for him reaching the 10,000 assist milestone because he's an amazing player and he definitely deserves it. I'm sure when he entered the NBA, he dreamed of being a legendary player, and I think he's reached that status.

Dreaming is good for basketball players. With dreams, you know where you want to be and you can reach those dreams no problem is you give it your all.

JM NBA Source
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