Jason Kidd's New Venture: Nurturing Youth Baseball
DALLAS (AP) — Jason Kidd's journey from a basketball prodigy to a renowned coach has led him to a new endeavor: nurturing young baseball talent. Thirty years ago, Kidd had to choose between basketball and baseball, ultimately opting for the former as a top NBA draft pick. Now, he's in a position to indulge his childhood passion, mirroring his approach to girls' youth basketball.
Kidd launched JK Select Baseball, a program with a grand vision of over 1,000 teams nationwide. However, the initial focus is on building a strong foundation in the Dallas area. Kidd's philosophy revolves around investing in kids, providing them with wisdom, and identifying mentors. He draws inspiration from his teenage son, Chance Kidd, who competes in the select baseball circuit.
The program's creation was sparked by a tragic event: the death of Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gigi, in a helicopter crash en route to a girls' youth tournament. Kidd felt compelled to honor Bryant by developing girls' basketball, resulting in an elite-level program that has produced 45 Division I athletes, including Jordan Lee, a sophomore at Texas. Now, he's applying a similar model to baseball.
JK Select Baseball employs a three-tiered strategy: elite-level national teams for ages 14-17, Dallas-area teams in the same age range, and licensing options for youth baseball organizations across various age groups. Kidd emphasizes the importance of growth, maturity, and relationship-building in sports, aiming to create a positive experience for young athletes.
Kidd's love for baseball stems from his childhood in the Bay Area, where he admired the Athletics and witnessed the heyday of Rickey Henderson and the slugging duo of Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire. He even forged a friendship with Tony La Russa, McGwire's manager, who invited him to participate in baseball activities during the late 1990s.
As a professional basketball player, Kidd played 19 seasons in the NBA, ranking third in career assists with 12,091. He won a championship with the Mavericks in 2011 and transitioned into coaching, leading the Brooklyn Nets as a head coach. Now, in his fifth season with the Mavericks, Kidd is focused on Cooper Flagg, a 19-year-old rookie, while also expanding his vision beyond basketball.
Kidd envisions JK Select Baseball as a platform to engage with young athletes in various sports, aiming to provide resources and mentorship. He believes that youth sports, when given a chance and proper support, can yield significant returns. This initiative marks another step in Kidd's post-coaching career journey, showcasing his commitment to nurturing the next generation of athletes.
