Suns guard Jason Kidd has allegedly lost control, this time off the court.(AP)

Chouinard was an average pitcher at best. Kidd is the biggest name in Phoenix sports. Police say Kidd admitted hitting his wife, and it's not known whether he will face any punishment from the team.

Colangelo sidestepped the issue Friday, but later the Suns announced that Kidd would not be in uniform for the Suns' game against Golden State.

"I have a lot of things swirling through my mind about circumstances, but I think it's totally inappropriate ... for us to consider what happens down the road," Colangelo said. "I'm really concerned about their relationship. That's all that really matters today."

Kidd, a member of the U.S. Olympic team that won the gold medal in Sydney, has credited their partnership as a big factor in his rise to NBA superstardom. He said the kisses he blows before free throws are for her.

But a very different picture of their relationship emerged from a 911 call Joumana Kidd made Thursday evening to police in Paradise Valley, the affluent suburb where many big-name athletes live.

"There's just a bad history here," Joumana Kidd said in the call. "I told him this would be the last time, and he popped me right in the mouth."

Police said Joumana Kidd had a swollen lip and was bleeding inside her mouth.

Kidd was arrested and booked before a magistrate before being released in the custody of his attorney. On Friday, he formally was charged with misdemeanor assault. Arraignment is set for Wednesday.

Kidd appeared with Colangelo and made a brief statement to reporters Friday.

"I love my wife. I love my family," Kidd said. "This is a situation that is embarrassing to me, to my family, my friends and also to the Phoenix Suns. I apologize for that and, at this time, that is pretty much all I can say."

There were hints in the 911 call that this may not have been the first such incident.

"Don't worry about me," Joumana Kidd said when asked if she needed medical attention. "This is minor compared to what I usually go through."

Kidd said he couldn't comment on whether anything like this had happened before, but said, "I have issues that I have to work on."

Kidd had a run-in with police while a student at California, and he had a turbulent early career with the Dallas Mavericks, but had been a model citizen publicly since he came to the Suns.

He and his wife operate the Jason Kidd Foundation, which contributes to the Phoenix Children's Hospital and Phoenix Boys and Girls Club, among other causes.

But in the 911 tape, Kidd can be heard shouting in the background.

Police said that Joumana Kidd was crying when they arrived following the 5:44 p.m. MST call. She said she and her husband had been arguing since he got home.

About 5 p.m., Joumana Kidd said, she decided to go to the gym and asked Jason if he would watch and feed their 2-year-old son, T.J. Police said Kidd took a french fry from the boy's plate, and his wife told him not to eat the child's food.

"Jason then turns towards Mrs. Kidd and spits the french fry at Mrs. Kidd, striking her in the face," the police report said. "Mrs. Kidd turns away from Jason. Jason then strikes Mrs. Kidd in the face while holding a container of yogurt in his hand"

Police said Joumana Kidd ran upstairs to her bedroom and locked the door, but her husband kicked the door open. She said she went to the bathroom and locked the door again before making the call to police.

She hung up before authorities could answer. Paradise Valley police called back, and talked to Jason Kidd first, then his wife.

Kidd's teammates said they would stand by him.

"I mean, just like anybody else, you're shocked," Rodney Rogers said. "I don't like stuff like that ..."

But, Rogers said, "I'm in his corner. If he needs to talk to somebody, we're here for him. We're like family."