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NEW YORK -- Jason Kidd became one of the best by making others better. He turned around a longtime-losing franchise, guided another to a championship, and helped his last one to its first division title since the year he came into the NBA 19 years ago. Teammates loved him. The U.S. national team needed him. But he looked more burned out than brilliant in the final weeks of the season, and on Monday he decided to end one of the greatest careers for a point guard in league history. "My time in professional basketball has been an incredible journey, but one that must come to an end after 19 years," Kidd said in a statement released by the New York Knicks. "As I reflect on my time with the four teams I represented in the NBA, I look back fondly at every season and thank each and every one of my teammates and coaches that joined me on the court." Kidd won an NBA title and two Olympic gold medals, is second on the career list in assists and steals, and was a 10-time All-Star. But he missed 22 of his 25 shots in the post-season and was scoreless in his final 10 playoff games shortly after turning 40, and decided to walk away with two years and more than $6 million left on the deal he signed last summer. His retirement comes two days after fellow 40-year-old Grant Hill, with whom Kidd shared Rookie of the Year honours in 1995, announced his retirement. Kidd went on from there to have big impacts on every team he joined. He led the Nets to two NBA Finals in 2002-03, helped the Dallas Mavericks win the 2011 title, and was on the first Knicks team to reach the second round of the playoffs since 2000. He averaged 12.6 points, 8.7 assists, 6.3 rebounds and 1.93 steals in a career that also included a stop in Phoenix. Kidd had numerous ways to make his mark on games, ranking third on the career list with 107 triple-doubles while finishing third all-time in 3-pointers made, despite being considered a poor outside shooter when he came into the league. Dirk Nowitzki, who played with Kidd on the Mavs title team, wrote on Twitter that Kidd was "one of the best point guards ever and one of the fiercest competitors I have ever played with." "Amazing career," Nowitzki wrote. "He always put the team and winning first. All the best to him in retirement." The Knicks signed Kidd away from Dallas last summer with a three-year deal, and he helped them flourish with a lineup that often featured two point guards. They won 54 games and their first Atlantic Division title since 1994, which was just before Kidd was drafted by Dallas with the No. 2 overall pick. "Jasons value to the Knicks and the National Basketball Association cannot be quantified by statistics alone," Knicks general manager Glen Grunwald said. "Everyone here in New York saw firsthand what a tremendous competitor he is and why Jason is considered to be one of the best point guards, and leaders, the game has ever seen." He got off to a rocky start with the Knicks, arrested on a drunken-driving charge shortly after signing last July -- Kidd was also arrested on a domestic violence charge while playing with Phoenix in 2001 , acknowledging he struck his former wife -- but he turned out to be the leader the team sought. He averaged 6.0 points, 3.3 assists and 4.3 rebounds in 76 games for the Knicks but lost his likely Hall of Fame-bound game in the post-season. He missed all 17 shots across the final 10 games, seeing limited minutes in the last two games of the Knicks loss to Indiana in the Eastern Conference semifinals. "Veteran leadership on and off the court was a huge factor for our team that recorded 54 victories and an Atlantic Division crown," coach Mike Woodson said. "Jason provided an incredible voice inside our locker room and I considered it an honour to say I coached him." Grunwald had said he expected Kidd to return, though Woodson said things could always change. Kidd becomes the second player on an aged Knicks roster to retire, following Rasheed Wallaces decision in April. Kurt Thomas, nearly six months older than Kidd, broke his foot late in the season, and his status is unclear. Kidd was a five-time selection to the All-NBA first team and was voted to the All-Defensive first or second team nine times. Phoenix traded him to New Jersey after his legal troubles, and he would go on to lead the Nets to their greatest NBA success. The 6-foot-4 guard is the teams career leader in most playoff categories. "Jason Kidd was the captain of the Nets during their most successful period in the NBA, and is considered the greatest player in the Nets NBA history. On behalf of the entire Brooklyn Nets organization, we congratulate him on his Hall of Fame career," general manager Billy King said. Along with his NBA greatness, Kidd had an undefeated career at the senior international level during an era when simply wearing a USA jersey no longer guaranteed victory. He helped the U.S. win gold in the 2000 and 08 Olympics, along with FIBA Americas titles in 1999, 2003 and 07. The Americans didnt win any of the three major international events without him during that time. Respected around the league, Kidd won the NBAs sportsmanship award this season, becoming the first player to win it in consecutive seasons. Commissioner David Stern said that was equally important as the way Kidd played, saying Kidd "embodied the ideals of team sports." "On behalf of the NBA family and basketball fans worldwide, I want to thank Jason for all he has done for the NBA and the sport of basketball, and hope he will continue to help us grow the game," Stern said. "We wish him and his family all the best." Wholesale Nike Shoes Free Shipping . The 43-year-old closer, in his 19th and final big league season, has said hed like to play the outfield. Yankees manager Joe Girardi says hes thinking about allowing Rivera to do it this weekend, when the Yankees finish their season with a three-game series at the Houston Astros. Authentic Wholesale Nike Shoes . Pettersen, winner of last years Evian Championships, had nine birdies and three bogeys, holding off a series of challengers led by Marion Ricordeau of France. The second-ranked Norwegian made her season debut after missing the LPGA Tours opening event last month in the Bahamas because of a shoulder injury. http://www.wholesalenikeshoeschina.com/ . After dropping their final six games of December, the Wild opened the new calendar year with four consecutive wins. Following a loss to Colorado on Saturday, Minnesota rebounded the following night to blank Nashville 4-0, but then had the tables turned on them Tuesday. Cheap Nike Shoes For Sale . Those lessons were more than enough to overwhelm the Utah Jazz. Lou Williams scored 25 points and the Hawks continued their offensive upswing as they rolled to an easy 118-85 victory over the Jazz on Friday night, winning their third straight and for the fourth time in five games. Cheap Nike Shoes From China . The Brazilian goalkeeper signed a loan deal with the Major League Soccer club on Friday as he looks to get playing time ahead of this summers World Cup in his home country.The Winnipeg Goldeyes have picked up exactly where they left off. Friday night in Grand Prairie, Tex., the Goldeyes got a great start from Matt Rusch, a homer from Josh Mazzola, three hits from Leonard Davis, a three-run sixth inning and a lock-down ninth inning from closer Patrick Keating to open the 2013 American Association season with a 4-2 win over the Grand Prairie AirHogs. “We were hitting on all cylinders,” said Goldeyes pitching coach Jamie Vermilyea on TSN 1290s post-game show. “We were throwing strikes, getting hits, playing defence. It was a good performance.” Indeed it was. The Goldeyes trailed 2-1 heading into the sixth when Mazzola homered and the Fish put up a three-spot and took the lead for good. The inning opened with a double from Fehlandt Lentini and after Nick Liles flew out, Davis singled home Lentini. Davis then scored ahead of Mazzola, who hit the game-winning two-run bomb. Meanwhile, as Davis and Mazzola each drove in two runs, the pitching staff was terrific. Rusch, who got the win, allowed two runs over five complete innings. Brendan Lafferty, Chris Kissock and Allen Caldwell each pitched a scoreless inning of relief and Keating shut it down in the ninth. While Rusch scattered six hits over five complete, the bullpen allowed only two over the next four. Rusch had five strikeouts while the bullpen added six – Lafferty had two, Kissock and Caldwell had one each and Keating struck out two in the ninth, including tthe final hitter from Grand Prairie, Joe Staley.dddddddddddd “Rusch came out throwing strikes, kept our defense on their toes and they were making plays behind him,” said Vermilyea. “When youre throwing strikes and getting ahead of hitters you can be very successful. “I mean you know you cant win ‘em all unless you win the first one and Matt gave us five solid innings and thats what we were looking for from him. Then we got an inning each from four relievers and now, if we need to, we can run them all out there tomorrow night.” Vermilyea was extremely impressed with the prowess of Davis, a former Washington Nationals minor league player of the year. The Goldeyes DH went three-for-four, drove in a pair and scored one. “Leonard Davis is getting better every day,” said Vermilyea. “Hes getting his timing down, hes really starting to hit his stride. Leonards looking good.” Rusch (1-0) got the win for Winnipeg. The man who earned the victory in the final game of last falls playoffs is off to a great start. Keating got the save, as five Goldeyes pitchers did not walk one AirHogs hitter. Starter Derek Blacksher (0-1) took the loss for Grand Prairie. He lasted just five innings, walked none, struck out one, and allowed four runs. The Goldeyes and AirHogs go at it again Friday night in Grand Prairie. The game can be heard live with Paul Edmonds on TSN 1290 beginning with the pre-game show at 6:30 p.m. ' ' '