Loads can occur in 25 years. For the Nets, virtually all of it has, besides a championship.
Jason Kidd turned a struggling New Jersey workforce into an Japanese Convention powerhouse within the early 2000s, steering them to back-to-back NBA Finals berths in 2002 and 2003. Because the transfer to Brooklyn in 2012, the franchise has blended playoff runs with star-driven experiments, from the Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett commerce to the Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving period, plus a current rebuilding push with the Flatbush 5.
There aren’t any NBA titles within the trophy case but, however there’s been memorable postseason pushes, together with journeys to the Japanese Convention semifinals in 2014 and 2021. And because the calendar flips to a brand new 12 months, it seems like the proper time to look again on the gamers who outlined these eras and left the strongest mark.
Listed below are my picks for the very best Nets of the previous 25 years, in no specific order.
Jason Kidd
Kidd modified all the things for the Nets the second he bought there. He took a workforce going nowhere and elevated it right into a Finals contender, setting the tone along with his competitiveness, really feel for the sport and skill to manage no matter was taking place on the ground. He gave the franchise an identification it hadn’t had in years and pushed the group to heights it hasn’t reached since. His influence on that period nonetheless shapes how folks speak about Nets basketball at the moment.
Kevin Durant
Durant introduced a stage of pure expertise the Nets had by no means seen, and at his peak in Brooklyn, he was as unstoppable as any scorer within the league. Even via accidents and the chaos round him, he delivered stretches of basketball that reminded everybody why he’s seen as an all-time nice. His efficiency within the 2021 playoffs grew to become a part of franchise lore, and his time in Brooklyn, whereas wildly difficult, nonetheless stands as one of the electrical eras the Nets have had.
Vince Carter
Carter gave the Nets a famous person presence proper after they wanted one. He arrived with sky-high expectations and in some way exceeded them, carrying the offense night time after night time and delivering the sort of shot-making and late-game moments that outlined that period. He performed via accidents. He took on no matter workload the workforce required and saved the franchise aggressive throughout a interval of main transition. His mix of toughness, scoring and freak athleticism made him one of the memorable Nets ever.
Brook Lopez
Lopez grew to become the regular drive the Nets leaned on for almost a decade. He grew into one of the expert offensive bigs within the league and gave the franchise a dependable anchor via teaching modifications, roster shakeups and the transfer to Brooklyn. His contact, endurance and skill to create his personal shot saved the Nets afloat throughout some tough stretches, and his consistency made him a cornerstone.
Richard Jefferson
Jefferson emerged as the right complement in the course of the Nets’ most profitable run, mixing athleticism, protection and well timed scoring with a competitiveness that helped outline these Finals groups. He by no means shied away from huge assignments or huge moments, and his recreation grew each season he was in New Jersey.
Kenyon Martin
Martin set the tone for these early-2000s Nets groups along with his edge, power and willingness to tackle regardless of the second demanded. He performed with a physicality that gave the group its persona, and his presence across the rim on each ends helped gas these runs to the Finals.
Deron Williams
Williams arrived in New Jersey because the sort of lead guard the franchise hadn’t had for the reason that Kidd period, and at his finest he managed video games with a mixture of power, tempo and shot-making that few defenders might sustain with. He helped information the Nets via the ultimate years in New Jersey and into Brooklyn, carrying a heavy offensive load whereas setting the usual for the workforce’s early years within the borough.
Joe Johnson
Johnson grew to become the Nets’ steadying drive throughout among the franchise’s best Brooklyn years. He introduced a calmness to late-game conditions, repeatedly bailing the workforce out with huge photographs and a tempo that by no means sped up, regardless of the second. His clutch resume alone would’ve left a mark, however his general consistency made him one of many period’s defining gamers.
James Harden
Harden’s run in Brooklyn was transient, sensible and messy unexpectedly. At his peak he gave the Nets precisely what they have been lacking, organizing the offense, lifting the tempo and carrying the group via stretches when others have been harm. For a second, it seemed just like the trio round him would possibly rewrite the franchise’s ceiling. However the frustrations, accidents and off-court noise finally caught up, and the partnership unraveled faster than anybody anticipated. Even so, his influence throughout that window, when wholesome and locked in, was not possible to disregard.
D’Angelo Russell
Russell grew to become the face of the Nets’ revival throughout his first stint with the franchise, entering into a bigger function after leaving Los Angeles and turning it into an All-Star season that helped pull the franchise out of its lowest level. He introduced a confidence the workforce badly wanted, hitting huge photographs, leaning into the highlight and giving Brooklyn an identification.
Jarrett Allen
Allen grew into the sort of reliable heart each younger workforce hopes to develop. He protected the rim, ran the ground, completed all the things across the basket and quietly improved a bit every season. His presence steadied the protection and gave the Nets a spine in the course of the early levels of their rebuild.
Spencer Dinwiddie
Dinwiddie grew to become one of many defining gamers of the Nets’ rebuild, entering into larger roles every time the workforce wanted somebody to hold the offense. He embraced robust photographs, late-clock moments and the accountability of operating the present when accidents piled up. His confidence gave the Nets a spark throughout seasons that might’ve slipped away.
Caris LeVert
LeVert blossomed into one of many Nets’ most dynamic younger gamers, somebody who might shift a recreation along with his creativity and fearlessness. He thrived in huge moments, particularly throughout stretches when the workforce leaned on him to generate offense late in video games. His growth grew to become a vivid spot in the course of the rebuild.
Mikal Bridges
Bridges stepped into Brooklyn and instantly grew to become the face of the franchise, embracing an even bigger function with out hesitation. His offense jumped from the second he arrived in Brooklyn, and he introduced sturdiness, professionalism and a two-way steadiness that helped stabilize the workforce after a chaotic stretch.
Nic Claxton
Claxton has developed into one of many Nets’ steadiest anchors, rising from a uncooked undertaking into a flexible defender who can guard everywhere in the ground. He’s additionally turn out to be one of many league’s higher passing bigs this season, protecting the offense flowing with fast choices and sensible reads. Now the longest-tenured Internet on the roster, he’s carved out an vital function on a workforce that’s modified continually round him.
Joe Harris
Harris turned himself into one of many Nets’ most dependable items, giving the workforce elite taking pictures and a gradual presence via a number of eras. His motion, spacing and unselfish fashion helped unlock the offense, and he remained a trusted starter regardless of how the roster shifted round him.
Keith Van Horn
Van Horn performed a key function in pushing the Nets towards respectability within the early 2000s, giving them a flexible ahead who might rating from all three ranges and carry stretches of the offense. He helped bridge the hole into the Kidd period and set the stage for the workforce’s rise, offering reliability at a time when the franchise badly wanted it.
Kyrie Irving
Irving’s run in Brooklyn was equal components sensible and irritating. When he performed, he confirmed why he’s one of the expert guards within the league, scoring in methods few gamers can. However the off-court points and lengthy stretches he wasn’t accessible made it arduous for the Nets to ever discover actual stability. Even so, the expertise he introduced and the moments he delivered nonetheless make him a serious determine within the workforce’s current historical past.
Stephon Marbury
Marbury didn’t spend a very long time with the Nets, however whereas he was there, he was one of the electrical guards within the league. He carried the offense at a time when the workforce didn’t have a lot round him, and despite the fact that wins didn’t all the time observe, he introduced star energy and manufacturing throughout a tough stretch.
Cam Thomas
Thomas has was one of many Nets’ most harmful scorers, in a position to warmth up quicker than virtually anybody his age. His confidence and shot making maintain him within the highlight, however in addition they make him divisive for some followers who query his playmaking and protection. Nonetheless, his potential to place up factors in bunches earns him a spot on this checklist.
Paul Pierce
Pierce spent just one season in Brooklyn, however he made it depend. He introduced a veteran edge to a roster loaded with huge personalities and delivered in moments that also stand out, together with his clutch play within the 2014 playoffs.
Kerry Kittles
Kittles was a key piece of the Nets’ rise within the early 2000s, giving the workforce regular taking pictures, sensible slicing and dependable protection on the perimeter. He match completely subsequent to Kidd, operating the ground, spacing the court docket and taking over robust matchups with no need the highlight.
Devin Harris
Harris introduced velocity and scoring the Nets badly wanted throughout a transitional stretch, stepping in as a lead guard who might strain defenses and create his personal offense. He took on a serious function instantly and delivered among the most memorable performances of that period, serving to maintain the franchise aggressive via fixed roster modifications.
Michael Porter Jr.
Porter hasn’t been in Brooklyn lengthy, however he’s already taking part in at a tempo the franchise hasn’t seen in years. His scoring bursts and effectivity have made him the middle of the offense virtually in a single day. It’s early, however he’s had such a direct influence that leaving him off a listing like this wouldn’t make any sense.
Cam Johnson
Johnson gave the Nets regular scoring, elite taking pictures and a peaceful presence throughout a stretch when the roster was continually altering. He introduced professionalism each night time and, together with Bridges, was one of the dependable items of the post-Durant period.
