Quick Scoop: when Jason Kidd almost joined the Spurs

Jason Kidd came very close to signing with the San Antonio Spurs in 2003, and he later said he even told Gregg Popovich and Tim Duncan that he was in before changing his mind and staying with New Jersey. He described it as a “biggest disappointment” and said he still wondered how different his career might have been.

What happened

The Spurs pursued Kidd after the Nets’ 2003 Finals loss, and Kidd visited San Antonio as a top free agent. During that trip, the recruiting pitch from Popovich and Duncan was strong enough that Kidd verbally committed to join them.

Why he stayed

Kidd ultimately backed out and re-signed with the Nets on a six-year, $103 million deal. Reports and later retrospectives say family considerations and second thoughts played a role in the reversal.

Why it still gets discussed

Fans still revisit the story because Kidd-to-Spurs would have paired an elite floor general with Tim Duncan in one of the NBA’s smartest systems. That hypothetical keeps popping up in interviews and retrospective pieces, especially because Kidd openly said he thought he was going to be a Spur.

Quick facts

• Year: 2003\.
[12]
• Team involved: San Antonio Spurs.
[12]
• Other key figures: Gregg Popovich and Tim Duncan.
[12]
• Outcome: Kidd stayed with the New Jersey Nets.
[12]

Forum-style takeaway

He was basically one visit away from becoming a Spur, but the deal collapsed at the last moment. That’s why it still feels like one of those huge “what if” NBA moments.[2][12]

Meta description: Jason Kidd almost joined the Spurs in 2003 after his Nets lost the Finals, but he changed his mind and re-signed with New Jersey.

[12]

TL;DR: Jason Kidd nearly signed with San Antonio in 2003, verbally committed during a visit, then backed out and returned to the Nets instead.

[14][12]