New York Knicks point guard Jason Kidd intends to fight a charge that he was drunk when he crashed his SUV into a telephone pole in the Hamptons over the summer, his lawyer said Wednesday.
Kidd, wearing a navy pinstriped suit and tie, said “Good morning” to reporters outside Southampton Town Court on Long Island. But he didn’t speak as he stood, back straight, facing the judge during his brief procedural appearance.
When asked about the allegations, attorney Edward Burke Jr. told reporters, “We are defending that.”
“He is taking this very, very seriously,” Burke said. “He wants to get this past him as quickly as possible. The legal process takes some time but he is ready for his season.”
Kidd was arrested in July, days after signing with the Knicks. He suffered minor injuries when the vehicle hit the pole and veered into the woods in the hamlet of Water Mill.
The misdemeanor charge carries the potential for up to a year in jail.
A few days after his arrest, Kidd said on Twitter that he regretted “any disruption my accident … may have caused members of the community.” He also said he wanted to “thank the local authorities.”
In another posting, Kidd thanked his family and friends for their support.
The Knicks signed Kidd away from the Dallas Mavericks in a $3 million-a-year deal. Kidd had played in New Jersey, leading the Nets to two NBA Finals appearances, before being traded to Dallas.
He helped the Mavericks win the 2011 NBA championship. Kidd is second on the NBA’s career list in assists and steals.
The two-time Olympic gold medalist has been in trouble with the law before. While playing with Phoenix in 2001, he was arrested on a domestic violence charge and acknowledged that he struck his former wife.
His next court appearance is Nov. 7.
–ESPN
