Recreational Holidays

Jason Kidd

The Dallas Mavericks point guard Jason Kidd is thought to be one of the best basketball layers currently active in the NBA. Before joining the Mavericks, Kidd led the New Jersey Nets to the NBA finals in 2002 and 2003.

His career in the NBA actually began with the Mavericks; he went on to play for Phoenix for a time, until being traded to the Nets before finally coming back home to the Mavericks in 2008, when he scored the 100th triple-double in his career in the final regular game of the season.

The oldest of six children, Kidd played on public courts in Oakland while a youth, often with Gary Payton (an NBA All-Star). The two remain close to this day and often speak fondly of playing on these courts.

During high school, Jason received the Naismith Award for the nation’s top high school player, and ended up going to college at University of California in Berkley. Jason Kidd was named a finalist for the Naismith and Wooden Awards as college basketball’s top player and decided to enter the NBA draft in 1994. Berkley retired his number 5 jersey when he left.

In the NBA, he was a 9-time NBA All-Star and on the All-NBA First team in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2004. He was on the 1995 NBA All-Rookie First Team, 2003 NBA Skills Challenge Champion and made All Defensive First and Second teams since 1999 to 2007.

Along with some of the other living legends of the game, Kidd represented the US on the US Men’s Basketball team in 2008’s Summer Olympics, bringing home the gold medal. He has an unbroken 56-0 record in USA Basketball, including exhibition games and also won a gold medal in the 2000 Summer Olympics!

However, the star’s personal life has not always gone as well as his athletic career. In 2001, he was charged with domestic abuse; he pled guilty to the charge and completed a course of anger management and counseling, in addition to quitting drinking. It was later announced that the couple had reconciled.

However, he filed for divorce in 2007, claiming his wife was insanely jealous, paranoid and had threatened to file false reports of abuse. His wife filed as well, claiming physical abuse. The two have three children together.

A year later, it was reported that Jason Kidd was expecting another child with girlfriend and model Hope Dworaczyk.

His personal life entirely aside, Kidd is one of the greatest players ever to walk the court. He is one of only two NBA players to score a career total of 14,000 points, 6,600 rebounds and 9,000 assists. Along with Magic Johnson and Wilt Chamberlain, he is one of only three players in the history of the NBA to average triple-doubles for multiple games in playoff series. He is also an all time double triple leader, right behind Magic Johnson’s 138 and Oscar Robertson’s 181, as well as having been named the USA Basketball 2007 Male Athlete of the Year.

Jason Kidd is one of the most accomplished players in the NBA - he has achieved much already in his career and this NBA legend and Olympic athlete may have a lot of surprises left on his career. He is also active in social work, sponsoring a variety of programs for Dallas area young people.