Hall of Famer Jason Kidd close to joining ESPN as NBA analyst, per reports

According to The Athletic and NBA reporter Marc Stein on Monday, Oct. 5, the Hall of Fame point guard is close to a deal to become an ESPN studio analyst and a member of "NBA Countdown." The show currently features Brian Windhorst and Kendrick Perkins with Malika Andrews hosting. Michael Malone left the program in April when he became the head coach of North Carolina's basketball team.

When USA TODAY Sports reached out to ESPN, a representative declined to comment.

In his playing days, Kidd was a nine-time All-Defensive player, a 10-time All-Star and was the 1994-95 Rookie of the Year. He spent time with the Phoenix Suns , the then-New Jersey Nets and played one season with the New York Knicks . He was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks and won the 2011 NBA championship with them. He coached the Mavericks from the 2021-22 season until this spring when he and the team "mutually agreed to part ways."