Jason Kidd won his second straight NBA Sportsmanship Award yesterday, becoming the first back-to-back winner.
Kidd, who won his first Joe Dumars Trophy last season with the Mavericks, received 91 first-place votes of a possible 355 from NBA players.
The annual award is said to reflect the ideals of sportsmanship: ethical behavior, fair play and integrity.
In between winning the two awards, Kidd was arrested last July for a DWI after allegedly smashing his SUV into a telephone pole in the Hamptons days after signing with the Knicks as a free agent.
Kidd’s lawyer, Edward Burke, said the case is still pending in Southampton Town Court after the latest court date two weeks ago was adjourned. Burke said he expects to have the case resolved by the end of summer.
Kidd, who turned 40 in March and has been extremely apologetic about the incident, bounced back from that rocky start and has been exemplary as a Knick, providing leadership, intangibles and defense.
“I’m trying to show them that you can win the Joe Dumars Award, too,’’ Kidd said yesterday. “You don’t just have to win the scoring title or the Sixth Man [Award]. It’s a great honor anytime you get recognized. I’ve won it twice, so hopefully I’m doing the right thing.’’
* Boston’s Jason Terry has been talkative lately, saying he is tired of the Knicks’ “showboating” and mocking J.R. Smith’s return from a one-game suspension, saying it’s not as if the Knicks were getting back Patrick Ewing.
Terry also told Kenyon Martin he wouldn’t let the Knicks dance at the Celtics funeral Sunday. Martin responded by saying the Knicks would wear black for Game 5 tonight.
“I don’t need any more motivation,’’ Martin said. “But he did add a little fuel to the fire. But I’m not fittin’ to go back and forth with him.’’
* Ewing returns to the MSG Network postgame show tonight.
“[Boston] is fighting for their lives and our guys are trying to finish it,’’ Ewing said yesterday. “The Knicks just have to stay focused. J.R.’s elbow to Jason Terry hurt the team. Getting J.R. back will be important, and the Knicks need to stay focused. They can’t get caught up in all of the hype if someone hits them.’’
— Additional reporting by Brian Lewis