About the New Jersey Nets

The New Jersey Nets franchise has had its share of difficulties since it first took the floor in 1967. One of 11 original ABA teams, the club has played in six arenas in the New York metropolitan area. Along the way, the franchise went to the top of the ABA on the back of Julius "Dr. J" Erving, and then fell to the cellar upon entry into the NBA. The late 1980s and early 1990s saw the Nets' slow rise to respectability in the NBA's Eastern Conference and, following a 43-39 mark in 1997-98 and an appearance in the playoffs, the franchise appears to be back.

The franchise was the result of the ABA's desire to field a team in New York City, the nation's center of media. Having a team in the NY would provide the league with some desperately needed street cred. What it ended up with was the New Jersey Americans that played in a converted armory in Teaneck, New Jersey. It was neither what the league nor owner Arthur Brown had in mind, but it was the best Brown could do after searching for an arena in Manhattan had turned up nothing.

Brown tabbed Max Zaslofsky as his coach. Zaslofsky had starred for the Chicago Stags, the New York Knicks, and the Fort Wayne Pistons between 1946 to 1955. At the start of 1967 he had been coaching the team fielded by Brown's trucking business.

Brown gave Zaslofsky a makeshift team to work with. Center Dan Anderson came to the Americans from the Akron Goodyears, an industrial team playing under the auspices of the AAU; forward Tony Jackson was a 26-year-old graduate of St. John's playing his first professional season; the other starting forward, Hank Whitney, was a 28-year-old rookie. The rest of the team featured Bruce Spraggins, Mel Nowell, Bobby Lloyd, and John Mathis. Only a handful of players lasted more than a year in the pros, and none had careers that stretched beyond two seasons.

After years of mediocrity we fast-forward to the present day Nets who are a force in the Eastern Conference.  The New Jersey Nets experienced a franchise-best season during 2001-02. With a club-record 52-win season, the Nets were Atlantic Division Champions and Eastern Conference Champions and made their first appearance in the Finals. The good fortune began with the trade for All-Star guard Jason Kidd in July 2001.

Sophomore Kenyon Martin continued to show why he was a number one draft pick the season before, while rookie Richard Jefferson caught the attention of many with his play during his first year. Jason Kidd sprang into the NBA's top 5 list of all-time for triple-doubles. Kidd finished the regular season with 46.

After defeating Indiana, Charlotte and Boston, respectively, the New Jersey Nets lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the finals. Even with the loss, 2001-02 was a magical season and will go down in Nets history as the best ever thus far.

For a second consecutive season, the New Jersey Nets found themselves in the finals. The Nets swept both the Boston Celtics and Pistons before falling 4-2 to the San Antonio Spurs in the Championship round.

Despite their loss in the Finals, New Jersey had another successful season, winning 49 games. Sophomore Richard Jefferson emerged as a rising star in his starting role at small forward, while Kenyon Martin continued to be one of the most dominant forwards in the East. The team leader, Jason Kidd, was his usual self, guiding his team all the way to the Finals.

Expect the same from the Nets this year who have evolved into perennial playoff contenders.  Jason Kidd has the best court vision of any point guard in the league, a good asset to have when you have Kenyon Martin and Richard Jefferson around the hoop.  Look for Jason to continue to draw defenders and dish no look passes to his forwards who will be ready and waiting for ball.  In the current state of the NBA, any team can make it to the top, and the New Jersey Nets have a better chance than most.