Emmanuel Mudiay laughs before a post-game interview after the Nuggets win over Milwaukee on Wednesday night. (Photo by Brent Lewis/The Denver Post)
Question: What do you do when a surefire Hall of Fame guard talks to you?
Answer: Listen. Just listen.
And so on Wednesday, prior to the Nuggets game against Milwaukee, rookie point guard Emmanuel Mudiay was all ears. Jason Kidd was talking. And when Kidd is talking, you’re soaking it all in.
But even more impressive was what Kidd had to say about Mudiay, the Nuggets’ budding young star.
“At 19 years old, he’s very talented,” Kidd said. “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.”
Kidd — second all-time in assists — continues to carry the body of athlete still in the game, but coaches the Bucks. While running his team, he finds time to keep an eye on interesting things and players around the league.
And he’s got an appreciation for the magnitude of the transition that Mudiay is trying to make, from high school and a dozen or so games professionally in China, to learning the ropes as a cornerstone player at the NBA’s most difficult position.
“It’s extremely hard because everyone wants the ball,” said Kidd, with a Cheshire Cat grin.
He broke out into a full chuckle.
“That’s just being honest.”
Then continued.
“But at that age, you are willing to give the ball, and I think he’s doing a really good job,” he said. “They are a young team, he’s asked to do a lot, and I think he’s standing up. He wants to be in that position, and it’s hard to say at 19-years old there are a lot of guys that can handle that.”
Asked if Mudiay compares favorably to him when he first broke into the NBA back in 1994, Kidd smiled again.
“He’ll be better,” Kidd said. “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, meanwhile, was just happy to get the face time.
“When you get a Hall of Famer talking to you like that, that’s huge,” Mudiay said. “And just take all of the advice you can get.”
Follow Chris Dempsey on Twitter @dempseypost or email him at cdempsey@denverpost.com
