I remember watching Jason Kidd play at St. Joe's High School and UC Berkeley back when I was just a little kid in the late 80s and early 90s. In fact one of my earliest memories is watching him and his high-top fade deftly dissecting Bishop O’Dowd’s defense with his crowd pleasing no look passes. He would then go on to do the same to the Pac 10 en route to leading Cal to the NCAA tournament. Check out this documentary that takes a look at his time at St. Joes and Cal below. Part 2A, Part 2B, Part 3A, Part 3B, Part 4
Jason probably would have attended O’Dowd since he lived nearby, but apparently while Kidd was an 8th Grader at St. Paschals, O'Dowd's coach Mike Phelps made an ill-advised comment while scouting him that cost him a star. Kidd’s style was always flashy and apparently Jason’s parents overheard Phelps say that he would never let him play like that at O’Dowd. As a result, his parents sent him to St. Joes so he could have the opportunity to become the dynamic player he is.
St. Joe's Coach Frank LaPorte allowed J. Kidd the freedom to flourish, but it was the playgrounds of Oakland where the Kidd got his start and swagger. Though he was a few years Gary Payton's junior, and many years younger than Hook Mitchell, he became their contemporaries due to his precocious play. Kidd pays tribute to Oakland, Mosswood Park and Grass Valley Elementary in the Nike ads below.
Clearly all of this was the beginning of a dynamic Hall of Fame career, but what I didn’t know is that Kidd also had an extremely brief rap career. Check out this 1994 track featuring Money B of Digital Underground recorded in his rookie year.
DL: "What The Kidd Did"- J. Kidd feat. Money B
Jason probably would have attended O’Dowd since he lived nearby, but apparently while Kidd was an 8th Grader at St. Paschals, O'Dowd's coach Mike Phelps made an ill-advised comment while scouting him that cost him a star. Kidd’s style was always flashy and apparently Jason’s parents overheard Phelps say that he would never let him play like that at O’Dowd. As a result, his parents sent him to St. Joes so he could have the opportunity to become the dynamic player he is.
St. Joe's Coach Frank LaPorte allowed J. Kidd the freedom to flourish, but it was the playgrounds of Oakland where the Kidd got his start and swagger. Though he was a few years Gary Payton's junior, and many years younger than Hook Mitchell, he became their contemporaries due to his precocious play. Kidd pays tribute to Oakland, Mosswood Park and Grass Valley Elementary in the Nike ads below.
Clearly all of this was the beginning of a dynamic Hall of Fame career, but what I didn’t know is that Kidd also had an extremely brief rap career. Check out this 1994 track featuring Money B of Digital Underground recorded in his rookie year.
DL: "What The Kidd Did"- J. Kidd feat. Money B
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