As he fielded questions from assembled media on Tuesday afternoon following the Mavericks’ first round ouster from the playoffs, Jason Kidd made it clear he has no plans to hang up his Nikes now.


Jason Kidd exited the Mavericks’ locker room on Tuesday with no plans to "hang ’em up" for good (Getty Images).

In fact, J-Kidd has a unique goal for next season.

"I’m going campaigning for Most Improved Player next year," he told the reporters, a remark that was met with a laugh.

But Jason wasn’t merely joking. He plans to be better next year in a full 82-game season without the stress of a condensed schedule pulling at his body.

"You can’t judge it in 66 games and playing nine games in 12 days," he told the Dallas Morning News. "Just getting back to 82 games will be nice. I’m not looking to play 38 minutes. But I feel great. Hopefully, I looked all right out there."

No. 2 is a free agent and will spend the offseason looking for the best fit for him in the league. He was sure to note that he is open to a new role, possibly as a backup to one of the league’s other elite point guards, although he believes he still has the skill level to start if the opportunity presents itself.

"It’s more fit, but hopefully I do have a little value," he said. "If I was young, it would probably be hard

[to consider a reserve role]. But understanding and making adjustments, as a professional, you have to accept your role, and that’s what I’ve done as I’ve gotten older, and so if that means coming off the bench, then I can handle that. That’s just another challenge, and that’s the way I would look at it."

The Mavericks hold a distinct nostalgic advantage in their pursuit of J-Kidd. They are both the team that drafted Jason and the won he helped win his first ring. Is a return next season in the offing? He hopes so.

"Cuban and those guys have a plan. We’ll see what happens this summer," he said. "I really have enjoyed my time here. It’s gone by extremely fast. I feel like I can still help a team win, and hopefully it’s back here."

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