Don’t plan on attending a jersey-retiring ceremony for Jason Kidd at American Airlines Center any time soon. The former Dallas Mavericks point guard apparently burned some bridges with team owner Mark Cuban when Kidd decided not to re-sign and instead head to New York.
Cuban said Tuesday he thought Kidd was returning to the Mavericks before the veteran point guard changed his mind and agreed to sign with the Knicks.
"I was more than upset,” Cuban told the Ben and Skin show on 103.3 [KESN-FM]. "I thought he was coming (back). I was pissed."
That answer came after Cuban was asked if Kidd would have his jersey in the rafters one day at AAC. Cuban said there was “no chance” of that happening after the way things ended.
"J-Kidd’s a big boy, he can do whatever he wants,” Cuban said. “But you don’t change your mind like that. I’m sure I’ll get over it at some point, but as of right now, I wouldn’t put J-Kidd’s number in the rafters."
Kidd's take? "I totally understand his side," he said. "Does Mark understand my side?"
Cuban said Kidd called him before agreeing to the deal but Cuban didn’t answer because he “was in D.C. with my kids at a museum.”
“I like J-Kidd,” Cuban added. “He’s a good guy. But I just thought that was wrong. You can’t put a guy’s number in the rafters when he decides he doesn’t want to be there.”
Kidd still wouldn't mind making it there.
"I would be honored if I made the rafters there," Kidd told FOXSportsSouthwest.com.
Cuban said Jason Terry, who signed with the Boston Celtics this summer, has a shot at getting his number retired. So, how are the departures different?
"Jet was 100-percent honest and straightforward about everything,” Cuban said. “No problem with what Jet did whatsoever.”
Cuban concluded: “It hurt my feelings, period, because I thought that we had developed a relationship and I thought [Kidd] was committed to the organization. It sure seemed like he was. I mean, J-Kidd was active in going out there and talking to Deron Williams the whole time. I guess it was more shocking and surprising than anything else."
Follow Jon Machota on Twitter: @jonmachota
