NBA Legend Jason Kidd Explains Why He Returned to Baseball to Mentor Young Athletes

The Basketball Hall of Famer discusses his lifelong love of baseball, launching JK Select Baseball and why developing character matters as much as developing talent.

A two-sport athlete himself at St. Joseph Notre Dame High School, these days you can find Jason Kidd building relationships and baseball players. | JK Select Baseball

Long before Jason Kidd became an NBA Hall of Famer, five-time assist champion and NBA head coach, he was a two-sport standout at St. Joseph Notre Dame High School with a passion for baseball. Now Kidd is returning to those roots as the founder of JK Select Baseball, a youth program focused on developing players both on and off the field.

These days you can find Coach Kidd, a NBA Champion and a former head coach with the Brooklyn Nets, Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks, investing his time and energy into developing a new generation of ballplayers. 

Building More Than Ballplayers

“Growing up in Oakland, I had coaches who cared about more than just winning games,” said Kidd, who founded JK Select Baseball earlier this year. 

“They taught accountability, respect, and how to compete the right way. Looking back now, those lessons were just as important as anything I learned about baseball. That's what I hope our coaches do at JK Select.” 

Why Baseball Still Matters

Kidd said the game has changed through analytics, technology and player development, but believes fundamentals, teamwork and character remain the foundation of success.

Kidd, who is third among all-time in NBA assist leaders with 12,091, kindly discussed his passion for baseball with High School on SI. He shared it what meant to start his program, the inspiration provided by the Oakland Athletics, what he learned during his time with Cal Baseball, and how he is adapting to technology in the game.

Q&A With Jason Kidd

In a matter of months, Jason Kidd has gone from the sidelines of the NBA to founding a baseball program rooted in his love for the game. | JK Select Baseball

Before we talk about some baseball, I have to throw in a quick basketball question to tip things off. In 2004 the New Jersey Nets had just traded for Vince Carter to form a “Big Three” with Richard Jefferson and yourself. What did that time teach you about building trust with teammates and communication?

Jason Kidd: That group taught me that talent alone doesn't win. Vince, RJ, and I all had different personalities and different strengths, but we all wanted to win. Trust comes from showing up every day, doing your job, and communicating honestly with each other. Everybody has to understand their role and know that the team comes first. When you build that kind of trust, everybody plays freer, and that's when you have a chance to be successful.

Those are some of the principles you founded JK Select Baseball upon, to teach young athletes the principles and characteristics that led you to becoming an NBA Hall of Fame player and NBA Champion over your 19-year career. What do you feel crosses over the most from basketball to baseball?

JK: The biggest thing is the qualities that make you successful don't change from sport to sport. Discipline, work ethic, being coachable, and being a great teammate matter whether you're on a basketball court or a baseball field. You're going to fail. That's part of sports. It's how you respond that matters. We want our players to learn how to compete, how to handle adversity, and how to treat people. If they leave JK Select better players and better young men, then we've done our job.

You are fortunate to have a talented group of coaches to work alongside, who are teaching baseball development while at the same time, trying to help these young men to grow. Who was that coach for you on the baseball field growing up?

JK: I was fortunate to have a lot of coaches who invested in me, from the coaches from St. Paschal Parish School, the dads who assisted were great too, but Mr. Lewis from select baseball was the coach that really pushed all of us. Growing up in Oakland, I had coaches who cared about more than just winning games. They taught accountability, respect, and how to compete the right way. Looking back now, those lessons were just as important as anything I learned about baseball. That's what I hope our coaches do at JK Select. The impact you have on a young athlete goes way beyond the field.

Look What The Kid Did: Jason went from consecutive California Division I State Championships in 1991 and 1992, to reaching the Basketball Hall of Fame. | SI Vault

Along with playing high school baseball at St. Joseph Notre Dame High School, you were a part of the college baseball program at the University of California. What's your favorite memory from that season and how difficult was it to decide between playing the two sports in college?

JK: I loved being around the team every day. I worked out with the team but never played. They were a great group of guys, and I will always appreciate the time I spent with the team. Choosing basketball wasn't easy because baseball was a huge part of my life growing up. I really believe playing both sports helped me become a better athlete. In the end, basketball became the path for me, but my love for baseball never went away. That's one of the reasons starting JK Select Baseball was so meaningful.

Who was your team or favorite player back in the day? Who do you root for now and enjoy watching?

JK: Growing up in the Bay Area, I was an A's fan, and Rickey Henderson was somebody I loved watching. The way he played the game, with his confidence, speed, and energy, made him special. Today, I just enjoy watching great baseball. There are so many talented young players in the game right now, and I appreciate the way they compete and continue to raise the level of the sport.

What do you feel has changed the most when it comes to baseball training and development from when you were growing up to now?

JK: The biggest difference is the amount of information players have today. Technology, analytics, video, and biomechanics have changed player development in a big way. Those tools are great, but they don't replace the fundamentals. Hard work, preparation, baseball IQ, and being a good teammate still matter. The technology should help players, but it can't replace the work.

JK Select teams have made an impact already, competing both regionally (Hawaii, San Diego, Missouri, and Illinois) and nationally in 15U through 17U. How long have you been considering starting this baseball program? What are you the proudest of as you look back on getting JK Select started back in 2021?

JK: Baseball has always been something I wanted to get back to. We didn't want to rush it; we wanted to build it with the right people and create something that would last. When I look back, what makes me proud isn't just the baseball. It's the relationships we've built with our players and families, the opportunities we've helped create, and watching these young men continue to grow. We're still building, and I think the best is still ahead of us.

Can you still hit?

JK: I'd like to think I can still find the barrel every now and then (laughs). I don't know if I'd want to see a steady diet of 95 anymore, but I still enjoy getting in the cage when I have the chance. These days, I probably have a lot more fun watching our players compete than worrying about whether I can still hit one out of the park.