After winning a gold medal in Sydney in 2000, Jason Kidd believed his time had passed to play with the next generation of American stars at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

And yet, after watching Team USA in the world championships last August, the Nets point guard had a change of heart.

He told his agent to call USA Basketball president Jerry Colangelo and tell him that he wanted back in an American uniform.

And for the first time Monday, he made public his desire to play in the FIBA Americas championship tournament in Las Vegas this August and the Olympic Games in 2008.