Pedro Oliveira
From its beginnings in the ABA to its move to Brooklyn, the Eastern Conference franchise has always been one step ahead in the modernization of the league, being one of the teams that has received the most changes in its appearance and name since its founding in 1967.
Today, they are one of the favorite teams to compete for the NBA championship, something they have never achieved so far in their history. However, with the help of Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving they will try to get the first ring of the organization.
We present this list with the 5 best Brooklyn Nets players in the history of the New York organization.
Vince Carter
While we all remember the shooting guard/forward doing acrobatic stunts in the Toronto Raptors’ brand new retro uniform, the harsh reality is that one of the best versions of Carter came in his 5-year stint with the then New Jersey Nets.
Starring on one of the strongest teams in the Eastern Conference, reaching the playoffs in three consecutive seasons (from 2005 to 2007), Carter would also star on eight All-America selections, including one of the top three teams in the All-Star Game (3 of them with the Nets), 2 All-NBA Teams, and becoming the oldest player in league history with 22 total seasons (in addition to playing in 4 different decades).
In 374 games with New Jersey, Carter averaged 23.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.7 three-pointers, making it the most productive stretch of his career.
4.- Julius Erving
Although Dr. J’s involvement would come with the Nets in the ABA, it is not something to underestimate. Technically, Erving would have won the only championships in franchise history, winning the 1973-1974 and 1975-1976 editions, winning the MVP award 3 consecutive times.
With the New York Nets, he would also earn 5 selections to the ABA All-Star Game, 4 All-ABA teams, 3 scoring championships and averages of 28.2 points, 10.9 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 2.3 steals and 2.1 blocks per game. Everything would rank him as the best player in the history of the organization, but Erving’s NBA breakthrough would come with the Philadelphia 76ers and not the Nets.
3.- Buck Williams
Selected with the third overall pick in the 1981 draft, Buck Williams would become a vital part of the team throughout the 1980s, racking up 8 total seasons and reaching several all-time records that still stand today.
Williams would win Rookie of the Year in his debut campaign (1981-1982), would be selected 3 times to the All-Star Game, 4 times to the NBA all defensive-teams and only one All-NBA selection in his career. In all his seasons with the Nets, he never averaged less than 12 rebounds per season, finishing his stint with 16.4 points and 11.9 rebounds.
He currently holds Brooklyn franchise all-time records in games played (635), minutes played (23100), free throws made (2476) and attempted (3818), offensive (2588) and defensive (4988) rebounds and total rebounds (7576). In the playoffs, he would only get as far as the conference semifinals in 1984.
2.- Brook Lopez
The 6-foot-2 center became one of the franchise’s modern stars, being selected 10th overall in the 2008 Draft and playing 9 seasons in which he became the team’s leading scorer with 10,444 points. In addition, it also leads in field goals made (4044) and attempted (7998) and blocked shots (972).
Brook’s resume only owns one All-Star Game selection in 2012-2013, one of the rare campaign when the center was at his best and healthy, as the two did not meet very often. In spells with Brooklyn, he averaged 18.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.7 blocks per game. Had his health allowed it, Lopez could have become even more of a New York team legend.
1.- Jason Kidd
There has not been a more iconic and impactful player in the history of the franchise than point guard Jason Kidd, who is responsible for leading the team to its only NBA Finals (2001-2002 and 2002-2003) and also being the leader of the franchise at its best during the modern era and since its inclusion in the NBA: the 2000s.
The point guard had a career-best seven campaign with the Nets, averaging 14.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 9.1 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.6 three-pointers through 504 games. Leading the league twice in assists, five All-Star Game appearances, five NBA defensive-all teams and four All-NBA teams. In addition, Kidd leads the franchise in assists (4620), steals (950), triple-doubles (61) and average assists (9.1).
During the 2002 finals they would be swept by the three-time champion Los Angeles Lakers of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, while in the 2002-2003 edition they would lose in six games to the San Antonio Spurs of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginóbili.
