Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Jason Kidd Nearly Signed With Spurs After Nets' 2003 NBA Finals Loss
If you can't beat 'em, join 'em ... That's almost what Jason Kidd did after his New Jersey Nets lost the NBA Finals to the San Antonio Spurs two decades ago in 2003.
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.”
The Spurs went on to win championships without Kidd in 2005 and 2007, but many are left to wonder how many more rings San Antonio would have if he joined the team.
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