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Kidd attended the University of California at Berkeley for two years before opting to enter the NBA draft in 1994. He was selected as the second pick overall by the Dallas Mavericks, behind Glenn Robinson of Purdue; that year he shared Rookie of the Year honors with Grant Hill of the Detroit Pistons who was picked third. He was a member of the "Three J's" in Dallas along with Jim Jackson and Jamal Mashburn, and it was hoped that the trio would lead Dallas for years to come; however, that plan was not to come to fruition, as all three of them found themselves playing for other teams shortly thereafter.
He was traded to the Phoenix Suns along with Tony Dumas and Loren Meyer for Michael Finley, A.C. Green, and Sam Cassell during the 1996-1997 season and later to the New Jersey Nets for Stephon Marbury. Kidd was named to the All-NBA First Team for four consecutive seasons (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002). He is also a five-time All-Star, making the game in 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, and 2002, being voted by the fans as a starter for four of those games. Finally, Kidd has led the NBA in assists for four seasons (1999, 2000, 2001, 2003).