Warriors? Is Jason Kidding? All-Star insists coming home 'might be best' By STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS Jason Kidd said Wednesday he might consider signing with the Golden State Warriors when he becomes a free agent next summer. "I want to win a championship, that's the bottom line," Kidd said. "Coming back home might be the best thing, but is that possible? I don't know." Kidd, who revitalized his turbulent career while leading the New Jersey Nets to the NBA Finals last season, still loves the Bay Area, where he was a prep star at St. Joseph High in Alameda before two seasons at Cal. His wife, Joumana, also is from the area, and they keep a home in Foster City, so they'll have a place to stay when their parents want to see the grandkids. Kidd maintains that playing with Golden State is an option, even though the team appears several years away from title contention. "You've got to remember, nobody thought New Jersey would have a chance to go to the finals," Kidd said. "Sometimes, it's that one guy." Current New Jersey assistant coach Eddie Jordan is one of three candidates to become the Warriors' head coach -- the other two possibilities are current coach Brian Winters and Atlanta assistant Eric Musselman. In addition to his individual accomplishments, which included eight triple-doubles, Kidd led New Jersey to the Atlantic Division title with a 52-30 record, 26 games better than its finish in 2000-01. Many called him the league's MVP, but he lost out to San Antonio's Tim Duncan by just 57 points in the voting. He's gearing up for a stint with the U.S. team at the World Championships in Indianapolis next month -- starting with a six-day training camp in the Bay Area -- before beginning the final year of his contract with the Nets. Kidd has relaxed, spent time with his family and played golf since the Nets were swept by the Lakers last month. He averaged 14.7 points, 9.9 assists and 7.3 rebounds during a brilliant regular season that earned him All-NBA first-team status. Kidd was in Redwood City on Wednesday to accept what might be Generation X's equivalent of a spot on a Wheaties box: a spot on the cover of EA Sports' NBA Live 2003 video game. "The new, ultimate thing is to be on the box for one of these games," Kidd said. "As a kid, growing up to be on the cover is a dream come true. This is something I always wanted to achieve." Later, Kidd toured the video game company's sprawling campus with his 3-year-old son, T.J., who waddled around in an EA Sports jersey that reached to his toes. In a league filled with hundreds of millionaire athletes who also happen to be rabid gamers, Kidd knows he'll be the envy of his peers as the latest cover athlete in the company's popular series of sports games. "I can't wait to play it with my teammates," Kidd said. "I hope they didn't make them better than me (in the game)." Lol. I thought he might want to hook up with a some serious talent aftr next year but never the Warriors. Oakland Tribune --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The idea of rejuvenating a dumpy team has made him think that a dumpy team in his hometown is more attractive than the extra millions NJ can pay him.
The Warriors have some nice talent. But Jason Kidd isn't going to cause Jamison to suddenly be a lethal inside/outside threat, or keep Fortson from whining about playing time, or help any of their centers become more than mediocre. He'd help with wins, sure, and maybe even make the Warriors respectible - but that's not the way to the title, if that's what he's truly looking for.
MMMUUUUHHHHHAAAAAAHAAA!!! He's so full of himself. New Jersey got much better in the previous off season. The progress of K-Mart, return of Kittles, and signing of T-Mac all contributed to the wins. If anyone can claim "it's that one guy", it's Steve Francis period.
What a fool. Kidd wouldn't make a difference on that sorry ass franchise. They'd struggle to make the playoffs every year out west.
Actually, I think the Warriors would go to the playoffs immediately if they were able to sign Kidd; not championship material, but definitely playoffs. They've got some nice talent but the team has no cohesion. Normally, that's something you'd expect coaching to provide for, but I think Kidd can provide that as well. Unfortunately, I don't think GS will be seeing any salary cap space, so they'd have to trade for him if they were to get him. Which would mean giving up some significant talent. I doubt it'll matter anyway. When it comes down to it, I think he'll be looking for money and championship contention.
Who knows what the exact question was? The interviewer might have brought up the Warriors, and Kidd would naturally want not to offend them, rather to keep as many teams bidding for his services as possible. The quote didn't make Kidd seem especially <i>eager</i> to play for the Warriors.
Kidd could get the Warriors in the playoffs if they were in the East, but not in the West. The West is just too strong; I mean the sixth and seventh seeds in the West would more than likely be able to beat Kidd's Nets, the number one seed in the East. Tell me which of these teams the Warriors with Kidd would be able to jump over? Lakers, Kings, Mavs, Spurs, Blazers, Sonics, Clippers, Jazz, Rockets, T-Wolves
You all need to stop making fun of the Warriors. They are only one wholesale management change, a complete roster turnover, and a few trades away from being a contender. With that having been said, no way Kidd comes "home" to play there. I still have a hard time remembering who played the Lakers in this past season's finals. Who did the East send again? No, really.
LOL! Why would he want to leave a good eastern conference team, that won't have to go through the Kings, Lakers, Spurs, and Mavs to get to the finals, to go to a team that had the least amount of wins in the league?
Just a thought... Payton is also a FA at season's end. Both are from that area. Both want to play together. Put them both together...add in Jamison and Richardson and Dunleavey. That's a decent team.
