Jason Kidd pleaded guilty to a drunken-driving charge on Tuesday, exposing him to a likely suspension from the N.B.A. that could postpone his coaching debut with the Nets this fall.  Although the league has not commented on Kiddâs case, a two-game suspension will probably be handed down based on league precedent. In 2007, Sacramento Kings Coach Eric Musselman was barred for two games after pleading no contest to driving under the influence. Jerry Buss, the Los Angeles Lakersâ owner, was also suspended for two games â and barred from attending his teamâs games â after being found guilty of a misdemeanor drunken-driving charge in 2007.  As a member of the Miami Heat, Dorell Wright was suspended two games in 2010 for a similar offense, as was Jason Richardson in 2009 when he was with the Detroit Pistons. There are other examples as well.  The N.B.A. handles suspensions on a case-by-case basis, and without any specified timeline. Nevertheless, there is a good chance that Kidd will have to serve his suspension at the start of the 2013-14 season.Â The league has not released the schedule for next season.  Kiddâs lawyer, Edward Burke Jr.,Â said in a telephone interview that Kidd participated in negotiating a plea deal that is designed to have him take part in a number of community-service events before he returns to court Sept. 30.  If Kidd fulfills his part of the agreement, Burke hopes to have his Â chargesÂ reduced to a noncriminal traffic violation. But he would probably still face an N.B.A. suspension.  A year ago, Kidd, 40, crashed his sport utility vehicle into a telephone pole in the Hamptons around 2 a.m. after attending a charity event. Kidd declined a breathalyzer test but was wobbly, smelled of alcohol and had glassy eyes, according to the Southampton (N.Y.) Town Police.  The accident occurred only days after Kidd signed with the Knicks to be one of their guards. As part of his plea deal, Kidd has agreed to speak at high schools on Long Island. He will share his story of what happened in the drunken-driving incident, discuss the dangers of driving impaired and discourage teenagers from text messaging while they drive.  âHe looks forward to these next few months,â Burke said of Kidd. âHe want to connect with the kids who just got their license. He wants to put a touch on kids who look up to him and, hopefully, they will listen intently.â  Had Kidd entered into a plea deal months ago, he presumably would have served his N.B.A. suspension as a Knick, not a Net. As it was, he retired in early June, and became the coach of the Nets 10 days later.  At Tuesdayâs plea hearing, Town Court Judge Andrea Schiavoni told Kidd he could have killed himself or someone else because of his actions. Kidd nodded his head, but he declined to speak with reporters outside the courthouse.  âHeâs standing up and taking responsibility in the community he just moved into last year,â Burke said. âHe is a coach now, and his players need to look up to him.â
Jason Kidd, the Netsâ new coach, was placed on interim probation and agreed to speak to Long Island high school students about the dangers of drunken driving.