Milwaukee Bucks head coach and 10-time NBA All-Star Jason Kidd has claimed that Denver Nuggets rookie Emmanuel Mudiay has the potential to be better than he was during his time in the league.
Mudiay has made a promising start to his career since being selected seventh in the Draft earlier this year, and the 19-year-old registered 16 points and 11 assists to help the Nuggets to a 103-102 victory over the Bucks on Wednesday night.
Kidd, who was named on the All-NBA First-Team on five occasions, believes that the youngster has all of the tools required to become one of the great point guards of his generation.
"At 19 years old, he's very talented," Kidd told reporters. "He's running the team, he's not afraid to take a big shot. Some people have said that he can't shoot, but he finds a way to put the ball in the basket.
"I think he enjoys to play the game, and I think for me, watching the tape on him is exciting. To see a 19-year old being able to run a team with his poise, and then also his skills. He has skills at the age of 19.
"He'll be better. He's better already. Being able to run an NBA team at 19 is not easy. You look at some of the greats — Magic [Johnson] was able to do it and you're looking at this kid Mudiay, who has the opportunity to do something special. So, I would encourage him to be better than me, and I think he will be at the end of the day."
Mudiay is averaging 13.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game this season.
Callum Mulvihill
