Freshly retired NBA star Jason Kidd is pursuing the Brooklyn Nets' head coaching job and his candidacy has been discussed within the highest levels of the organization, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Kidd has been talking with associates about the possibility of making the immediate leap from a Hall of Fame playing career to a head coaching job, and has been working to identify a staff of assistant coaches who could help him overcome the significant learning curve, sources said.



The Nets have considered Indiana Pacers associate head coach Brian Shaw as their top target for the vacancy, but are competing with the Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets to secure him.

Kidd still has strong ties within the Nets' organization that he revived with consecutive NBA Finals appearances (2002 and '03). After 19 seasons in the league, Kidd retired last week after one season with the New York Knicks.

Before Kidd signed a free-agent deal with the Knicks, he considered re-joining the Nets as a backup to star point guard Deron Williams. Kidd and Williams have a strong relationship and share an agent.

Kidd retired as a 10-time All-Star, and second behind John Stockton in career assists and steals. He's considered one of the most intelligent players in the sport's history.

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