Jason Frederick Kidd (born March 23, 1973, in San Francisco, California) is an American All-Star professional basketball player in the NBA. After earlier tours with the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns, he is currently the New Jersey Nets starting point guard and captain.

He led the Nets to two consecutive NBA Finals appearances (2002 and 2003) and is considered to be one of the best players of his generation, one of the greatest playmakers in NBA history and also one of the greatest point guards in NBA history. His on-court versatility also makes him a regular triple-double threat, and he is in third place all-time for triple-doubles in the NBA with a career total of 87 (as of April 13, 2007).

Kidd was born in San Francisco, California, the oldest of three children of Steve and Anne Kidd. His father is African American and his mother is Irish-American. He was raised in the Oakland Hills, an upper middle class section of Oakland, just outside San Francisco. He attended St. Paschal's Baylon school in the Oakland Hills. He frequented the city courts of Oakland, where he often found himself pitted against future NBA All-Star Gary Payton. The two still reminisce about the playing days of their youth. During his youth, Kidd also excelled at soccer as well as other sports.

After graduating from St. Joseph Notre Dame High School in Alameda, California, where he also led his team to back-to-back California Division 1 state titles, Kidd attended the University of California, Berkeley. He was teammates with current NFL tight end Tony Gonzalez. His successful collegiate career as a star point guard was topped off by his selection as a First Team All-American during his sophomore year, after which Kidd subsequently opted to enter the NBA Draft in 1994.

Rising star: From Dallas to Phoenix

He was selected as the second pick overall by the Dallas Mavericks, behind Glenn Robinson of Purdue. In his first year he averaged 11.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 7.7 assists, sharing 1995 NBA Rookie of the Year honors with Grant Hill of the Detroit Pistons. He was a member of the "Three J's" in Dallas along with Jim Jackson and Jamal Mashburn however, that plan did not come to fruition, as all three found themselves playing for other teams shortly thereafter. Kidd was traded to the Phoenix Suns along with Tony Dumas and Loren Meyer for Michael Finley, A.C. Green, and Sam Cassell during the 1996-97 season. In 2001, after five seasons in Phoenix in which the team made the playoffs each year under Kidd, he was traded to the New Jersey Nets for Stephon Marbury.

Face of a franchise: New Jersey Nets 2001-Present

The 2001-02 season saw Kidd lead the Nets to a surprising 52-30 finish, and marked one of his best all-around seasons as he finished second to the Spurs' Tim Duncan in MVP voting. Many have argued that Kidd deserved to win the award because of his impact in New Jersey—transforming the Nets from perennial league doormats into championship contenders seemingly in the space of a single training camp. His contribution to the Nets during his first season in New Jersey was huge, and resulted in one of the greatest turnarounds in NBA history. He was also fortunate to join the team when he did, as the team reaped the benefits of the newly healthy Kenyon Martin,Kerry Kittles, & Keith Van Horn. And the trading of Eddie Griffin for Richard Jefferson,Jason Collins,and Brandon Armstrong.

Under Kidd's guidance, the young Nets team prospered through the playoffs and ended up advancing all the way to the Eastern Conference title and the franchise's first-ever appearance in the NBA Finals. However, New Jersey's season would end without an improbable NBA crown, as Kidd and the Nets were swept in four games by Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant's Los Angeles Lakers. However, New Jersey enjoyed another stellar season under the helm of Kidd's leadership in the 2002-03 NBA season, during which the team finished 49-33 and reached the NBA Finals once again, only to succumb to Tim Duncan's San Antonio Spurs in six games.

On July 1, 2004, Kidd underwent microfracture surgery to repair a damaged knee. He made a full recovery and returned to the court in December of that year, during which the Nets acquired star swingman Vince Carter from the Toronto Raptors. With the Nets hanging on the prospect of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2001 and with Jefferson injured, Carter and Kidd combined to fuel the team to a late regular-season surge that enabled them to inch past the Cleveland Cavaliers for the eighth and final playoff berth in the East. However, their season would come to an end early as they fell in four games to top-seeded Miami in the first round.

In the 2005-06 NBA season Kidd averaged 13.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 8.4 assists (5th in the league). Although he has aged, the 33-year old Kidd's skills don't appear to be diminished, especially on the defensive end. This is evident as he continues to hold some of the NBA's premier point guards to well below their respective performance levels. On February 1, 2007 Jason Kidd was named a reserve for the NBA All-Star game along with teammate Vince Carter. However, he missed the game because of a sore back.

On April 7, 2007, Kidd and teammate Vince Carter became the first teammates to record triple-doubles in the same game since Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen did it in 1989 for the Chicago Bulls. Kidd finished with 10 points, 16 rebounds, and 18 assists. In the 2006-07 postseason, Kidd notched his 10th postseason career triple double on April 27, 2007 in game three against the Toronto Raptors. He recorded 16 points on 50% field goal shooting, a playoff career high 19 assists, 16 rebounds, 3 steals, and a block, as the Nets defeated the Raptors 89-102. He tied Larry Bird for second All-time in career postseason triple-doubles. In the first round of the postseason, Kidd averaged 14.0 points, 13.2 assists, 10.0 rebounds, and 2.0 steals, as the Nets defeated the Raptors in six games. He joined Wilt Chamberlain and Magic Johnson as the only players in NBA history to average a triple-double in multiple playoff series. In game three of the second round in the 2006-07 playoffs, Kidd recorded his 11th postseason triple-double with 23 points, 14 assists and 13 rebounds, breaking the tie with Larry Bird for second place on the All-Time career list. For the postseason, Kidd averaged 14.6 points, 10.9 assists and 10.9 rebounds in twelve playoff games. He became the second player in NBA history to average a triple-double for an entire postseason.

Growing legacy: Next 10

On February 18, 2006 as a reference to the NBA's 60th anniversary, TNT aired the "Next 10", a program consisting of the network's sixteen NBA analysts that selected 10 players who, in their minds, merit inclusion into the NBA's 50 all-time greatest players list. Kidd was chosen at #9.

Controversy

In January 2001, Jason Kidd arrested and pleaded guilty to a domestic abuse charge for assaulting his wife Joumana in anger. As part of his plea, Kidd was ordered to attend anger management classes for six months. Kidd completed the mandatory counseling and continued to attend on his own and it was reported that Kidd has since given up alcohol. He and his wife were both active in their church and were thought to have completely reconciled. On January 9, 2007, Jason Kidd filed for divorce against his wife, citing "extreme cruelty" during their relationship. Kidd contended intense jealousy, paranoia, and the threat of "false domestic abuse claims" to the police as reasons for the divorce. On February 15, Joumana Kidd filed a counterclaim for divorce, claiming that the NBA star — among countless instances of abuse — broke her rib and damaged her hearing by "smashing her head into the console of a car". The couple have three children (Trey Jason (T.J.), and twins Miah and Jazelle).

High school Highlights

• Once had 271 steals in a single high school season while playing at St. Joseph Notre Dame High School, the most ever in the United States.

NBA highlights

• 8-time NBA All-Star: 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007 (2007-did not play due to back injury/cracked ribs)

• 6-time All-NBA:

• First Team: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004

• Second Team: 2003

• 9-time All-Defensive Selection:

• First Team: 1999, 2001, 2002, 2006

• Second Team: 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007

• NBA co-Rookie of the Year: 1995 (with Grant Hill)

• NBA All-Rookie First Team: 1995

• 5-time NBA regular-season leader, assists per game: 1999 (10.8), 2000 (10.1), 2001 (9.8), 2003 (8.9), 2004 (9.2)

• 3-time NBA regular-season leader, total assists: 1999 (539), 2001 (753), 2003 (711)

• NBA regular-season leader, total steals: 2002 (175)

• NBA All-Star Skills Challenge champion: 2003

NBA milestones

• In NBA history:

• ranks 3rd in triple-doubles (87, as of April 13, 2007)

• ranks 7th in assists (8,691, as of April 18, 2007)

• ranks 5th in assist-per-game average (9.2)

• ranks 12th in steals (1,902, as of April 18, 2007)

• ranks 12th in steal-per-game average (2.02)

• One of only three players in NBA history to record at least 13,500 points, 6,000 rebounds, and 8,500 assists in his playing career (the others are Oscar Robertson and Earvin "Magic" Johnson).

• In the 2002 Eastern Conference Finals vs. the Boston Celtics, Kidd averaged 17.5 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 10.2 assists per game, becoming one of only two players in NBA history to average a triple-double in a playoff series of six or more games (the other is Magic Johnson). Kidd did it again in the 2007 Eastern Conference First Round vs. the Toronto Raptors, averaging 14.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 13.2 assists per game.

• One of only five players in NBA history to lead the league in assist-per-game average for 3 consecutive seasons (the others are Bob Cousy, Oscar Robertson, John Stockton and Steve Nash ).

• Holds New Jersey Nets franchise records for career triple-doubles (49), career assists (4,090), assists in a season (808), triple-doubles in a season (12) (2006-2007). He also has the most 3-pointers made by a Net (729).

• One of five players to average a triple-double for a playoff series, joining Magic Johnson, Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson and Fat Lever.

• One of only three players (Fat Lever, Wilt Chamberlain) in NBA history to post at least 15 points, 15 rebounds, and 15 assists in a playoff game.

• Second most career playoff triple-doubles (11).

• One of three players to average a triple-double for multiple playoff series, joining Magic Johnson and Wilt Chamberlain.

• Second player in NBA history to average a triple-double for an entire postseason. Kidd finished with averages of 14.6 points, 10.9 rebounds and 10.9 assists in 12 games during the 2007 NBA playoffs.

• • Joined Oscar Robertson who averaged 28.8 points, 11.0 assists and 11.0 rebounds in 4 games.

Other

• Member of the 2000 U.S.A. Dream Team which won gold at the Sydney Olympics.

• Member of the 2003 U.S.A. Basketball Men's Senior National Team.

• 1992 Naismith High School Player of the Year

• USA Today and Parade Magazine 1992 National High School Player of the Year

• Named to the USA Today All-time All-USA Second Team in 2003.

• Named First Team All-American as a sophomore at UC Berkeley.

• His number (5) was retired by the University of California in 2004

• Kidd is expected to play for USA basketball in the 2008 Olympic Games. Kidd is 28-0 in games played for USA basketball