Eastern Conference coaches finally found a way to stop Jason Kidd: Ignore him.

For the first time since 1997 when he was injured, Kidd will not be a part of the NBA All-Star Game. Kidd was one of the more glamorous omissions yesterday when the reserves were announced for the Feb. 20 showcase in Denver. Kidd, presumably, was hurt by the 16 games he missed rehabbing from knee surgery. And when he returned, he played limited minutes.

“I just got back playing,” said Kidd, who, with three triple-doubles in the last month, seemed like a lock to join teammate Vince Carter on the East team. “I’m glad for Vince and the guys who were selected. They’ve all had great seasons. It’s just time for me to regroup and make a push for the playoffs.”

Kidd, who’ll lead the Nets against the Kobe Bryant-less Lakers tonight, has been a seven-time All-Star, missing only his rookie season plus ’97. He started four times.

“Will I miss it? Yeah, because that’s a time to showcase the best players,” said Kidd, who has All-Star averages of 8.0 points and 8.3 assists. “But as you get older, you tend to want a little bit more rest, so we’ll let the younger guys have fun.”

The guards selected over Kidd by the conference coaches were Miami’s Dwyane Wade, Boston’s Paul Pierce and Washington’s Gilbert Arenas. Also chosen were centers Ben Wallace of Detroit and Zydrunas Ilgauskas of Cleveland plus forwards Antawn Jamison of Washington and Jermaine O’Neal of Indiana. O’Neal missed 15 games through suspension, a point Kidd noted.

“Jermaine O’Neal didn’t [play 15 games]. That’s the rebuttal,” said Kidd, who was surprised by the omission of Orlando’s Steve Francis. “If our record was maybe a little bit better, I might have [had] a better chance.”

Of course, members of the Nets were bothered, surprised, disappointed.

“The guy’s been dropping triple-doubles. Look what he’s meant to the team since he’s been back. I guess since he was out so much, they decided not to put him in, but there’s no question he deserves it,” said Travis Best.

“I’m a little bit surprised. The guy has been playing at such a high level. He has played as well as any time since the first half of his second season with us, when he played lights out,” said team president Rod Thorn.

“All I can say is he’s been playing well enough,” said Carter.

“I’m sure many people would agree he’s the premier point guard. Obviously, the reason he didn’t make the All-Star team [is] that he missed the beginning of the season because of injury – though Jermaine O’Neal made the team,” said coach Lawrence Frank. “Jason is obviously an All-Star.”

Kidd plans to use the time off to vacation with his family in Cabo San Lucas in Mexico. He insisted that should there be an opening through injury, he is not interested in being a replacement. Not sour grapes, just family.

“No, because my family comes first,” Kidd said. “I’ll enjoy my time with my family.”

One Eastern coach, who requested anonymity (“I don’t want Jason Kidd taking it out on us,” he laughed) admitted Kidd’s missed games affected his decision, although he didn’t reveal his choices.

“The games he missed hurt,” the coach said. “And it’s hard to argue with who made it. They are all having great years.”

Kidd Marbury All Star Stats

Jason Kidd

Year Team Min. FGM-Att FTA-M Reb Ass. Pts.

2004 Nets 22 4-6 3-4 3 10 14

2003 Nets 33 4-9 2-2 5 10 11

2002 Nets 18 1-2 0-0 1 3 2

2001 Suns 30 4-6 0-0 4 2 11

2000 Suns 34 4-9 0-0 5 14 11

1998 Suns 19 0-1 0-0 1 9 0

1996 Mavericks 22 3-4 0-0 6 7

Stephon Marbury

Year Team Min. FGM-Att FTA-M Reb Ass. Pts.

2003 Suns 15 1-3 2-2 1 6 4

2001 Nets 18 5-9 0-2 0 4 12