Attorney: Kidd Nets Deal on DWI Charge

Jason Kidd's court appearance Tuesday is expected to be a slam dunk for the NBA star turned Brooklyn Nets' coach.

His attorney, Edward Burke Jr., said Kidd will plead guilty in Southampton Town Justice Court to the misdemeanor driving while intoxicated charge brought against him one year ago after he crashed his Cadillac Escalade near his Water Mill house.

The upside for Kidd, however, is that his criminal conviction could disappear.

Burke struck a deal with the Suffolk County District Attorney's office that involves an interim plea, or a suspended sentence, "meaning that we have the ability, with the consent of the DA of course, to vacate that plea at a later date," he explained on Tuesday morning.

Typically, suspended sentences involve at least one year of probation — as opposed to the three years of probation that can come with a misdemeanor DWI conviction. However, Kidd will avoid even one year of probation visits in exchange for speaking to students about what not to do.

"The DA wishes to use Jason in a positive way to connect with the kids and we're all for that," Burke said.

A year of probation, Burke said, would be problematic for Kidd, who retired after the NBA Playoffs and signed on to coach the Nets. The district attorney will allow Kidd to fulfill his obligations — the details of which will be hammered out during a conference on Tuesday morning — before basketball season starts.

Asked which schools Kidd will address students, Burke said the locations hadn't been decided upon yet, but they will be within Suffolk County. "Honestly, it's only right that one be in the Southampton Town," the area in which Kidd's drunken driving occurred," Burke said.

Kidd is expected to appear in the Hampton Bays court at 11 a.m. Tuesday. 

What's most important, Burke said, is that "He's standing up. He's acknowleding responsibility."

Kidd's case has lasted nearly a year, in part because Kidd was busy traveling during the season. "This is certainly the right time. He's here, his obligations are less intensified. He's just done with summer league in Orlando and he's got another summer league at the end of August," Burke said, adding his client is looking forward to starting this next phase of his career with the charge no longer looming.

He will have to return to court in late September or early October for the judge to ensure he has lived up to the agreement.