Mavericks Look Forward to Kidd Stuff

Beyond all the hype, Jason Kidd looked like any other rookie during his first few workouts with the Dallas Mavericks.

He hung on every word from coach Dick Motta, then repeatedly double-checked his duties with the assistant coaches to make sure he got it all.

When he ran the offense, Kidd appeared hesitant. It was as if he were waiting for his mind to tell his body where to look, what to do and when to do it.

For 90 minutes, he went through those motions. Not once did he look one way and pass the ball the other direction. He hardly even did anything as fancy as dribble between his legs.

This was the Jason Kidd that has been making highlight films since high school? The same one who turned the University of California back into a basketball force?

Without a doubt.

It’s just that, for now, he’s putting aside some of the flash to make sure he gets down all the fundamentals he needs to one day become a great pro, maybe even as good as or better than his idol Magic Johnson.

“I’ve worked very hard to get to this point,” said Kidd, who officially debuts when training camp opens Oct. 7. “The time has come. A lot of people have been talking about it for a long time and now they can stop talking and see what I’m capable of doing at this level.

“Right now, I’m just trying to learn the different plays,” Kidd said. “It’s more of a decision, where I have to be and who I pass to. In time, that will all disappear I’ll know exactly where to go with the ball.”

The Mavericks knew exactly where they wanted to go when lottery Ping-Pong balls gave them the second pick in this summer’s draft.

They practically salivated at the chance to take Kidd, then made him the first of the top eight picks under contract when he signed a $54 million, nine-year contract Sept. 3.

While his basketball ability never was in doubt, Kidd’s character became the big issue between the lottery and draft.

Over those five weeks, Kidd was involved in a hit-and-run accident that he fled on foot, was accused of slapping a woman, and the mother of his child sued for increased child support.

His summer got worse when he was caught in a controversy over his desire to be a Maverick. Motta said Kidd promised to be at the first minicamp, yet Kidd skipped it because he wasn’t under contract.

“God has tested me to see how I handled it because I’ve been blessed with great success,” he said. “So then He wanted to see how I handled the negative publicity.

“I thought I withstood the storm,” Kidd said. “It goes along with the territory of being a person who’s looked upon not just in your community but across the nation.”

The nation has been looking upon the 6-foot-4, 215-pound Kidd since his high school days at St. Joseph in Alameda, Calif., and especially when he kick-started the Cal program and led it to the last two NCAA tournaments.

At the same time, the Mavericks were becoming the worst team in the NBA.

Dallas hopes to have the last laugh now by parlaying their failure into a nucleus of Kidd, Jamal Mashburn and Jim Jackson. Team officials have made no secret that they expect Kidd to pull it all together.

“He’s more of a creator and a true point guard than anyone I’ve had,” said Motta, about to enter his record 23rd season as an NBA coach.

“When we were going over one of the plays in a controlled situation, I heard Jason say, ‘I draw up the plays for all positions.’ It was just a statement. But I don’t know of many 21-year-old guys who would do that.”

Another thing few of Kidd’s peers can match is some of the company he’s kept in the offseasons.

He’s already played with or against Johnson, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and other NBA superstars, making him one of the least-awed rookies around.

“I don’t think I’m intimidated, but I still have butterflies going out there because it’s a new situation. I think a lot of people will definitely come at me hard because of all the attention I’ve received,” he said with a laugh.

Kidd isn’t burdening himself with pressure. Although he knows a lot of people are counting on him and he wants to deliver, he also wants to have fun while learning the league and his teammates.

“I think a lot of people expect me to pick up where I left off in college,” said Kidd, who led the nation last season with 9.1 assists per game. “The people who know the game know it’s a learning experience, especially your first time around.”

Motta said he figures it will take Kidd at least two years and maybe even three before he’s really comfortable in the NBA. Motta used the development of New Jersey’s Kenny Anderson and Seattle’s Gary Payton as examples.

Still, the Mavericks don’t want to wait. They’ve already put up billboards advertising “The New Kidd in Town,” and he’s signed a lucrative deal with Nike.

Kidd says he hasn’t spent much of his newfound riches. He did donate $46,000 to a Dallas church to install a basketball court for a midnight league, and he plans to build houses in Dallas and Oakland.

“I’m excited,” Kidd said. “I’m glad to be here and I’m happy to be in the city of Dallas. They’ve welcomed me with open arms and I want to show that this team is ready to play.”