SAN ANTONIO -- This has turned into a 24/7 obsession for New Jersey Nets fans, a count down to July 1 that is going to be one of the greatest times in Nets history, or truth be told, the darkest day since owner Roy Boe sold Julius Erving to the Philadelphia 76ers.

	Much of the Nets' burden has fallen on the shoulders of Jason Kidd, left.

Around these Nets, everyone stops, takes a deep breath and prays Jason Kidd gets through San Antonio on Thursday without the swooning city letting the love wash too thickly over its franchise star. Here, they're treating Kidd like the difference between championship contention and forever coming close with the greatness of Tim Duncan. Here, they're treating him like the second star needed to make a move back to greatness.

Kidd is still careful with his words, offering nothing for public or private consumption. Deep down, the Nets understand: The best chance they have to keep him could come with his wife, Joumana, and her contentment in the Metropolitan New York area, the television opportunities -- including covering the Grammys for the E! network -- that wouldn't be there for her in San Antonio.

Because let's face it: The basketball reasons to stay with the Nets are limiting themselves these days, especially when the possibility of joining Duncan looms. The Nets are on the clock. From the top of the organization down, it is everyone's mission to make sure Kidd believes the Nets are worthy of him staying the course to sign a six-year, $100 million contract this summer. What was believed hanging heavy in the favor of the Nets mere months ago has dropped, in the mind's of some Nets officials, to 50-50.

"The No. 1 focus is where's my best opportunity to win a championship," Kidd says.

Of course, this isn't completely true. Family considerations will weigh heavily into his choice. If he just wanted to win a championship, the Lakers have a veteran exception for him to take this summer. Of course, winning matters to Kidd. All you need is to watch him play and you'll understand that. Which is why Chicago, Denver and the Clippers -- other teams with salary cap space this summer -- will be non-factors courting Kidd.

	This is a San Antonio-New Jersey matter -- a choice of chasing a championship with Duncan against max-out money, endorsement possibilities and family bliss in the shadows of New York City.

This is a San Antonio-New Jersey matter -- a choice of chasing a championship with Duncan against max-out money, endorsement possibilities and family bliss in the shadows of New York City.

Television cameras awaited Kidd's arrival at the team hotel in San Antonio late Wednesday night, the anniversary of the Alamo turning into a city-wide recruiting pitch to tell Kidd he's badly wanted here. They're greeting him at a good time here when his mind has to be wandering to the possibilities of a free agent summer. The Nets are stumbling. They've struggled since the All-Star break and so much of the burden of winning and losing has been thrust back on Kidd.

Nets coach Byron Scott is playing Kidd far more minutes than he wanted to this season. The magic touch of general manager Rod Thorn turned out to be sullied with the signing of free agent Chris Childs, too. This was an important part for the Nets, a chance to get Kidd's minutes into the mid-30s, especially on nights they could have an easy time beating teams.

Childs was awarded a two-year, $3.6 million contract for the most modest job in basketball: Backing up the world's best point guard. Just give Kidd 10 to 15 minutes of rest each game, give his beaten body a chance to refresh. Childs came to camp 20 pounds overweight, won a month at a fat farm and six weeks of suspension and turned into a disaster so momentous that the Nets left him off the current road trip and are believed to be working on a buyout to release him.

Across the way tonight, there's bright young Spurs star Tony Parker, who could make life so much easier for Kidd as he turns north of 30 years old. Yes, it's tempting. So tempting here. Which is why for their own good, the Nets need to get a victory, get of town and get back to the business of selling Jason Kidd on staying the course.

Adrian Wojnarowski, who's a columnist for The Record (N.J.), is a regular contributor to ESPN.com. He can be reached at ESPNWoj@aol.com.