Kidd: You can't turn down opportunity to coach Lakers

Jason Kidd has seen the reports linking him to the Los Angeles Lakers' head coaching job if Luke Walton is fired, and he understands the significance of landing such a role.

"When you look at the Lakers as a whole, it's a franchise that's one of the best in the world. Not just in the NBA, but the world," Kidd said during ESPN's "The Jump" on Monday. "And so, if you ever have the opportunity to wear the purple and gold, you can't turn that down.

"As a coach, as a player, because they're all about championships, and so they have a process. They have a young team. And then LeBron (James) comes and kind of sped up things. And so he wants to win now. But I think again, it takes time."

While there's a level of expectation that comes with having James on the roster, Kidd would embrace the chance to work with someone the caliber of the four-time Most Valuable Player.

"When you talk about the best player in the world, you always are going to say yes because as a coach or as a teammate, he's always going to make you better because you're going to work," he said.

"As a coach, X and Os, you got to be on point. And as a teammate, you're going to work extremely hard because you know he's going to need you to make that shot or come up with a defensive play. And so, that would be a great honor to coach any elite basketball player, and I've got that opportunity in Giannis (Antetokounmpo). And hopefully, somewhere down the road, I can have another star."

Kidd coached the Brooklyn Nets to a 44-38 record in 2013-14 and was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks at the end of the campaign. Milwaukee went 139-152 across four seasons and made a pair of playoff appearances under Kidd's tutelage before firing him on Jan. 22, 2018.

He's also reportedly in the mix to take the coaching reins of the Cal men's basketball program following Wyking Jones' dismissal. Kidd is an alumnus of the college, having played two seasons with the Golden Bears.