Exclusive: Jason Kidd Reflects on Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard and Redeem Team’s Hall of Fame Selections
Jason Kidd shares heartfelt reflections on former teammates Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard being named to the 2025 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame class.
Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard have been elected to the 2025 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, joining a class including the 2008 U.S. Men’s Olympic Basketball Team. Dallas Mavericks head coach and Hall of Famer Jason Kidd, who played alongside Anthony and Howard on that gold medal-winning squad, shared his reflections on their collective achievement.
“Yeah, to be able to play with both those guys in ’08 and win a gold medal — [they were] great teammates,” Kidd told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “It’s an incredible achievement by both. Very dominant, highly skilled, both winners. I’m happy to hear that both of them got into the Hall of Fame. Well deserved.”
Anthony was a 10-time NBA All-Star during his 19-year career and ranks 10th on the league’s all-time scoring list with 28,289 points. Known for his offensive prowess and shot-making ability, the Brooklyn native averaged 22.5 points per game and won the 2013 scoring title with 28.7 points per game. He led Syracuse to its first NCAA championship as a freshman in 2003 before being selected third overall in the NBA draft later that year.
He spent most of his NBA career with the Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks, followed by shorter stints with the Thunder, Rockets, Trail Blazers, and Lakers. Internationally, Anthony helped Team USA win three Olympic gold medals in 2008, 2012, and 2016. He was named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team in 2022.
“Got to play with Melo in New York, and we had a great run there,” Kidd told DallasHoopsJournal.com.
Howard, selected first overall in the 2004 NBA Draft, entered the league directly from high school. He anchored the paint during his peak with the Orlando Magic, earning five consecutive All-NBA first-team selections, winning three straight Defensive Player of the Year awards, and leading the team to the 2009 NBA Finals. From 2007 to 2012, he averaged 20.6 points, 13.9 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game, cementing his status as one of the league’s most dominant big men. He remains one of only four players in NBA history to win the league’s top defensive honor at least three times, joining Dikembe Mutombo, Ben Wallace, and Rudy Gobert.
Howard was also the starting center on Team USA’s 2008 Olympic team, playing a key role alongside Anthony, Kidd, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.
Following his time in Orlando, Howard became one of the NBA’s most well-traveled veterans. He spent three seasons in Houston after a rocky initial stint with the Lakers, then changed teams almost every offseason. His journey included stops with the Hawks, Hornets, Wizards, and 76ers, as well as three stints with the Lakers. In his second tenure with Los Angeles, he won an NBA title in 2020 as a valuable reserve during the league’s bubble season, with Kidd on the coaching staff.
“When you talk about Dwight — coaching him in L.A., winning a championship there — I’m just happy for both of them,” Kidd told DallasHoopsJournal.com.
The 2008 U.S. Olympic team — “The Redeem Team” — was also elected to the Hall of Fame and remains one of the most celebrated teams in international basketball history. After a disappointing bronze medal finish at the 2004 Athens Olympics, USA Basketball underwent a dramatic transformation under the leadership of Jerry Colangelo and head coach Mike Krzyzewski.
Bryant, named captain, led a star-studded roster that included Anthony, Howard, Kidd, James, and Wade. The Americans won their first seven games in Beijing by at least 20 points before defeating Spain 118–107 in a competitive gold medal game. Wade led the team in scoring off the bench at 16.0 points per game, followed by James at 15.5 and Bryant at 15.0. Though Bryant, James, and Wade often grabbed headlines, the team’s unselfishness and chemistry restored the program’s global dominance.
The Redeem Team is widely considered the most iconic Olympic squad since the 1992 Dream Team and has been the subject of documentaries and books chronicling its rise and cultural impact.
“I’m excited to see them in Springfield,” Kidd told DallasHoopsJournal.com with a smile, referring to both Anthony, Howard, and the 2008 team.
The enshrinement ceremony will take place Sept. 6 in Springfield at the Hall of Fame, where Anthony, Howard, and their Olympic teammates will be formally honored for their individual excellence and collective redemption.
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