Mavericks’ Kidd, Pistons’ Hill Share NBA Rookie-of-Year Award

Two old pals and young stars, Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks and Grant Hill of the Detroit Pistons, shared the NBA rookie-of-the-year award on Wednesday.

Hill and Kidd have been friends since high school. In college, Kidd’s California team knocked Hill’s Duke team out of the NCAA tournament in 1993.

Then they were drafted 2-3 by the Mavericks and Pistons last June and wound up tying for the rookie award--only the second time in NBA history that has happened. Boston’s Dave Cowens and Portland’s Geoff Petrie shared the honor in 1970-71.

It reminded Hill of another collegiate rivalry that continued to thrive after the players became professionals.

“It would be nice if we could develop a rivalry in the NBA like the one between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird,” Hill said. “I’m sure Jason would like that too. Neither one of us has the team for it right now, but we might someday.”

With Kidd at point guard, Dallas improved its record by 23 games, and the presence of Hill up front helped the Pistons win eight more games than the season before.

Each player received 43 first-place votes out of a possible 105 from media members.