The Associated Press

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Jason Kidd picked the New Jersey Nets over the defending champion San Antonio Spurs in hopes of winning his first NBA title.

Kidd ended 11 days of free agency angst for the resurrected Nets when he spurned an offer from the Spurs on Friday and agreed to a six-year, $99 million deal with New Jersey.

"After great thought and consultation with the important people in my life, I have decided that I want to remain a New Jersey Net," said Kidd, a perennial All-Star point guard who was the biggest catch of the free agent market this offseason.

His decision came the same day that word emerged that center Alonzo Mourning would join the Nets as a free agent. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said in an e-mail that Mourning wouldn't sign with Dallas and instead had chosen New Jersey.

Mourning - out of the NBA last season because of a kidney ailment - can't officially sign with the Nets until Wednesday, nor can Kidd.

"I have enjoyed being here the past two years, I have worked hard with my teammates and believe in our future," Kidd said in a statement released by his agent, Jeff Schwartz. "I've been fortunate to have had significant interest from other great organizations, but ultimately I want to finish what we started here and bring a championship to the Nets."

Since arriving via trade two years ago, Kidd transformed the Nets from an also-ran into the two-time Eastern Conference champion.

But there was no guarantee Kidd would return to New Jersey once he became a free agent July 1.

The Spurs and Nets were the only teams with a legitimate chance to sign Kidd.

Both teams had the money, and both are legitimate title contenders.

The Spurs could offer about $92 million over six years, which was $6 million to $7 million less than the Nets. But the difference wasn't as much because Texas does not have an income tax.

San Antonio also had the attraction of playing with two-time MVP Tim Duncan. The drawback was playing in the loaded Western Conference.