Jason Kidd Reportedly Challenges Deron Williams in Spirited Nets Practice

Clearly, Brooklyn Nets head coach Jason Kidd isn't getting his competitive fix by standing idly on the sidelines.

Per Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News:

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During another disappointing and injury-riddled season for Deron Williams, Kidd stepped on the court during five-on-five drills and went head-to-head with the point guard in a spirited exchange at a recent practice.

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Before anyone starts getting ideas about Kidd potentially returning to bolster the Nets bench as a player-coach, forget it. The NBA doesn't allow that anymore.

More likely, Kidd was simply trying to help his struggling point guard the best way he knows how: with a hands-on approach.

Nathaniel S. Butler/Getty Images

It's been a rough year for D-Will. He's averaging just 13.3 points and 6.6 assists in 30.9 minutes per game and has lost 16 contests to injury so far. Kidd has tried bringing Williams off the bench, using him alongside fellow point guard Shaun Livingston and even making him a part of some higher-octane small-ball units in an effort to jump-start Williams' season.

Nothing has worked.

Per Tim Bontemps of the New York Post, Williams thinks the issue might be in his own head: "I think [the break is] definitely needed. Take a quick step away for a little bit, and get my mind right, more than anything."

Whatever the case, it's hard to fault Kidd for mixing it up with his star guard; Brooklyn's season largely depends on Williams' post-break production.

We don't know how the matchup played out. For the Nets' sake, let's hope it lit a fire under Williams.

Remember, he went on a second-half surge last year. So, it's not crazy to expect a similarly sudden improvement this time around. Williams is a notoriously inconsistent player, capable of looking like a 12th man or an All-Star from month to month.

If Kidd's prodding brings out the latter version of Williams' game, the coach might soon find himself suiting up for practice more often.

Somebody get the Bengay ready; J-Kidd is going to need it.