USA - Kidd honored by USA Basketball
Jason Kidd, 44-0 in international competition, is the USA Basketball male athlete of the year. Kidd helped the Americans qualify for the 2008 Olympics, as the U.S. team rolled to a 10-0 mark at the FIBA Americas tournament. Starting nine games, the New Jersey point guard averaged only 1.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists. But he directed an offense that averaged 116.7 points, led by Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony.
From sportsillustrated.cnn.com
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Jason Kidd, 44-0 in international competition, is the USA Basketball male athlete of the year.
Kidd helped the Americans qualify for the 2008 Olympics, as the U.S. team rolled to a 10-0 mark at the FIBA Americas tournament.
Starting nine games, the New Jersey point guard averaged only 1.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists. But he directed an offense that averaged 116.7 points, led by Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony.
Kidd helped the Americans win a gold medal at the 2000 Olympics and was part of unbeaten U.S. squads in the 1999 and 2003 Olympic qualifiers. He was unavailable to join the original national team program in 2006 while dealing with knee and marital problems, but asked to be added last year.
USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo said Kidd's addition was "important and critical to the team's success for several reasons."
"First, he is respected by his fellow players in the NBA and he is a proven leader who throughout his career has been recognized as one of the all-time great passers," Colangelo said in a statement. "His ability to run the offense and to get everyone involved are vital qualities. By adding Jason to our program we added leadership, maturity and experience."