Jason Kidd Speaks on Nearly Joining Tim Duncan's Spurs: 'I Said Yes'

DALLAS — Jason Kidd won a championship during his NBA playing career in 2011 with the Dallas Mavericks, but he made a decision in 2003 that would have likely led to many more.

As a member of the New Jersey Nets, Kidd averaged an impressive 19.7 points, 7.8 assists and 6.2 rebounds in the 2003 NBA Finals — losing to the San Antonio Spurs. He was a free agent that summer and nearly joined the Spurs.

During the season finale of Showtime’s Headliners, Kidd was asked about when he nearly joined the Spurs during his playing career. He mentioned making a verbal commitment to join the team when he visited San Antonio, which involved efforts from Gregg Popovich and Tim Duncan to lure him to sign.

“The Spurs come calling and ask, ‘Would I come join them?’” Kidd said. “And I did say yes. I said yes in San Antonio when I went down on my visit with Pop and Tim, I said yes.”

Kidd ultimately changed his mind about signing with the Spurs, ultimately re-signing with the Nets on a six-year, $103 million contract. He admits to pondering about what could have been had he followed through to join San Antonio.

“I went home and then things got changed a little bit,” Kidd said. “Sometimes I think about what would’ve happened, probably a couple championships.”

Kidd went on to win a championship with the Mavs in 2011, but it it might not compare to the three titles the Spurs had won after he had the chance to join. San Antonio went on to win championships in 2005, 2007, and 2014.

The Mavs know all too well about Kidd's knack for changing his mind at the last second, as they agreed to a new contract in 2012 before Kidd instead opted to leave and join the New York Knicks.

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