Kidd Decides Best Play Is to Stay With Nets

All-Star point guard Jason Kidd picked the New Jersey Nets over the defending champion San Antonio Spurs in hopes of winning his first NBA championship.

Kidd ended 11 days of free agency angst for the Nets when he spurned an offer from the Spurs on Friday and agreed to a six-year, $99-million deal with New Jersey.

“After great thought and consultation with the important people in my life, I have decided that I want to remain a New Jersey Net,” said Kidd, the biggest catch of the free-agent market this off-season.

His decision came the same day that word emerged that center Alonzo Mourning -- an All-Star with Miami two years ago -- would join the Nets as a free agent.

Net President Rod Thorn said the league’s rules on free agency prevented him from commenting on either Kidd or Mourning until next week.

Free agents can’t sign with teams until Wednesday.

“I have enjoyed being here the past two years, I have worked hard with my teammates and believe in our future,” Kidd said in a statement released by his agent, Jeff Schwartz.

“I’ve been fortunate to have had significant interest from other great organizations, but ultimately I want to finish what we started here and bring a championship to the Nets.”

Since arriving via trade two years ago, Kidd transformed the Nets from an also-ran into the two-time Eastern Conference champion.

However, there was no guarantee Kidd would return to New Jersey once he became a free agent July 1.

While cleaning out his locker a few days after the Spurs had defeated the Nets in six games in the NBA Finals, the 30-year-old Kidd made it clear he didn’t want to finish the season as a bridesmaid again.

“My decision is going to be based strictly on winning a championship,” Kidd said days after his title hopes came up one step short again.

In 2001-02, the Nets were swept in the Finals by the Lakers.

The Spurs and Nets were the only teams with a legitimate chance to sign Kidd.

Both teams had the money and both are legitimate title contenders. San Antonio could offer about $92 million over six years, which was about $6 million less than the Nets.