What’s new with the Brooklyn Nets? That’s what this page is all about.

The Team Spirit FAST BREAK website begins where the Team Spirit books end.

That’s because basketball never stands still … And I can never squeeze everything I want into 48 pages!

Take a look at some of the Nets collectibles I have in my home.

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Updates

2023-24 Season

Season Preview: In an otherwise disappointing 2022–23 season, one of the big stories in Brooklyn was the play of veteran Mikal Bridges, who joined the Nets when they traded Kevin Durant. Bridges played airtight defense and made good things happen on offense. That will be coach Jacque Vaughn’s strategy for 2023–24. If starters Ben Simmons, Spencer Dinwiddie, Nic Claxton, and Cameron Johnson can stay healthy, opponents won’t be able to rest at either end of the court. Behind the front five, there are several young players anxious to watch, learn, and prove themselves if they get the opportunity.

2022-23 Season

Season Recap: After an encouraging start that included a 12-game winning streak, the Nets limped into the playoffs, where they fell to the 76ers in the first round. Their two stars, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, were unhappy and asked to be traded. Brooklyn did just that—and got good talent in return. Center Nic Claxton became a first-rate player in his furth NBA season and led the league in shooting percentage. Spencer Dinwiddie also played well in his second time around with the Nets after the trade of Irving, and Mikal Bridges averaged more than 26 points a game after joining the club following the Durant trade.

January 03, 2022: Jacque Vaughn was named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for December after leading the Nets to a 12–1 record. All 12 victories came during a historic 12-game winning streak.

December 5, 2022: Kevin Durant was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the second time in 2022-23. He averaged 33 points a game and made almost two-thirds of his shots to help Brooklyn go 3–1.

October 24, 2022: Kevin Durant entered the Top 20 all-time scorers in NBA history when he dropped 37 points on the Memphis Grizzlies.

Season Preview: Can a team with Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Ben Simmons, and Seth Curry finish the year with a losing record? The Nets will answer that question in 2022–23 and Brooklyn fans hope the answer is No. Durant and Irving showed they could be great together when healthy, and Curry is a talented support player. If Simmons can blend his talents with these three, the Nets could roll over their playoff opponents and make it back to the NBA Finals for the first time in 20 years.

2021-22 Season

Season Recap: The Nets looked great on paper when the season started, but they rarely were able to put their best five players on the court at one time. Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant played a total of just 84 games, and James Harden was traded away in February. Brooklyn squeaked into the playoffs but did not have enough to get past the Celtics in the first round, losing 4 games to 0.

April 22, 2022: Patty Mills of the Nets won the NBA Sportsmanship Award. The award honors the player who best represents sportsmanship on the court.

March 15, 2022: Kyrie Irving scored 41 points in the first half on his way to a team-record 60 points in a 150–108 win over the Orlando Magic.

March 06, 2022: Kevin Durant became the 23rd player in NBA history to score 25,000th points.

December 12, 2021: Kevin Durant scored 51 points in a victory over the Detroit Pistons. Two days later he netted 34 points with 13 rebounds and 11 assists for the 14th triple-double of his career.

November 24, 2021: Kevin Durant passed Allen Iverson to take over the #25 spot on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.

October 22, 2021: Patty Mills became the first player to make his first 10 three-point attempts to begin a season.

Season Preview: The Nets begin the season as the favorite in the East to make it to the NBA Finals. Just as last year, however, their “Big Three” of James Harden, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Durant must show up ready to play. In all, they appeared in only three games together during 2020–21. The team is deep behind these three, with Blake Griffin, Joe Harris, and LaMarcus Aldridge expected to play key roles. The Brooklyn defense is so-so, but they can outscore anyone. If the Nets reach the playoffs in good health, they will be tough to beat.

2020-21 Season

Season Recap: The dream of playing Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden together never quite came true, as injuries kept at least one of these superstars on the bench for all but a handful of games during the regular season and playoffs. All three averaged well over 20 points when they played and Brooklyn began the playoffs as the favorite to reach the NBA Finals. After winning the first two games of their second-round series against the Milwaukee Bucks, the Nets fell in Game 7 during a thrilling overtime battle.

March 2, 2021: James Harden was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month after averaging over 25 points and 10 assists during the month of February. It was his 11th Player of the Month award but his first with Brooklyn.

January 16, 2021: Following a blockbuster trade that included four teams, new Net James Harden scored a triple-double in his first game for Brooklyn. Harden scored 32 points and had 12 rebounds and 14 assists in a win over the Orlando Magic.

Season Preview: Kevin Durant joins Kyrie Irving and DeAndre Jordan on the court in 2020–21 to give Brooklyn’s new coach, Steve Nash, a “Big Three” that makes the team an instant playoff contender. Role players Caris LeVert and Spencer Dinwiddie, who played well when given the chance last season, make up a strong supporting cast. The Nets know if injuries hit the team again, this duo can step up again and get the job done.

2019-20 Season

January 31, 2020: Kyrie Irving scored 54 points in a win over the Bulls to set a new team record. He was a perfect 10-for-10 in the first half and had 10 points in a row during the fourth quarter to put the game away.

Season Recap: The Nets made the playoffs with a 35–37 record but were swept 4–0 in the opening round by the Toronto Raptors. Kyrie Irving missed most of the season to injury but averaged 27.4 points in the games he did play. Point guard Spencer Dinwiddie and backcourt mate Joe Harris were Brooklyn’s most reliable players. With a solid core, the Nets are hoping to take a step forward when Kevin Durant returns to full health in 2020–21.

Season Preview: Kevin Durant will probably sit out the year so his Achilles injury fully heals, but while he’s gone the Nets hope to become the league’s best long-distance shooting team. Newcomer Kyrie Irving will lead the 3-point attack, with help from Joe Harris and Taurean Prince. If Spencer Dinwiddie and Jarrett Allen continue to improve as role players, Brooklyn could be a winning team long before Durant arrives.

2018-19 Season

Season Recap: The Nets were fun to watch in 2018–19, making the playoffs with a 42–40 record. D’Angelo Russell took a giant step toward stardom, averaging 21.1 points and 7.0 assists per game. The team got excellent years from a pair of NBA unknowns, point guard Spencer Dinwiddie and center Jarrett Allen, as well as veteran super sub Demarre Carroll. The Nets won the opening game of their playoff series against the powerful 76ers but lost the next four to end their year.

April 6, 2019: Joe Harris made three of six three-pointers against the Bucks to finish as the NBA leader, with a 47.4 shooting percentage from “downtown.”

February 16, 2019: Joe Harris won the 3-Point Contest at the 2019 NBA All-Star Game.

January 21, 2019: D’Angelo Russell was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week with 74 points in wins over the Celtics and Magic.

Season Preview: Brooklyn fans will be watching their team rebuild in 2018–19. That doesn’t mean the Nets are out of the playoff hunt. The team has assembled a roster of over-achievers who play patient, unselfish basketball. Most NBA fans won’t recognize the names on Brooklyn’s uniforms when they come to town, but by season’s end “Demarre Carroll” and “Rondae Hollis-Jefferson” could sound a lot more familiar.

2017-18 Season

Season Recap: The Nets suffered through another losing, finishing one game behind their city rivals, the Knicks. Injuries struck several key players, including Jeremy Lin and D’Angelo Russell. One of the lone bright spots for the Nets in 2017–18 didn’t even count: point guard Spencer Dinwiddie won the Skills Challenge during All-Star Weekend. He was the second Net to win; Jason Kidd was the first.

December 17, 2017: The Nets traded for All-American center Jalil Okafor. Okafor led his college team, Duke University, to the national title in 2015.

Season Preview: The Nets are still rebuilding—this season around young star D’Angelo Russell. If fellow guard Jeremy Lin can stay healthy, they will lead an attacking offense that will keep opponents on their heels.

2016-17 Season

Season Recap: The team’s struggles continued, as they fell to just 20 victories and a last-place finish. Brook Lopez topped 20 points a game for the fourth time in his career, but this season would be his last as he was traded to the Lakers in June.

2015-16 Season

2014-15 Season

2013-14 Season

More Go-To Guys

Kenny Anderson was a happy guy when the Nets drafted him. A Brooklyn native, he liked playing close to home. (Topps, Inc.)

Vince Carter was known for more than dunking, but he was a legendary slam artist. (Sports Illustrated for Kids)

  • Bernard King — 6′ 7″ Forward
    Born: 12/4/1956
    Played for Team: 1977–78 to 1978–79
    Bernard King played his first two NBA seasons with the Nets and was their first great NBA star. He averaged 22 points a game for New Jersey and was a member of the 1978 All-Rookie team.

  • Kenny Anderson — 6′ 0″ Guard
    Born: 10/9/1970
    Played for Team: 1991–92 to 1995–96
    Kenny Anderson was the second pick in the 1991 draft and developed into an All-Star for the Nets in his third season. Anderson ranked among the NBA leaders in assists with the Nets, and was also an exciting scorer.

  • Drazen Petrovic — 6′ 5″ Guard
    Born: 10/22/1964
    Died: 6/7/1993
    Played for Team: 1990–91 to 1992–93
    Drazen Petrovic was becoming one of the top players in the NBA when his life was cut short in a car accident in 1993. He gave the Nets 20-plus points a game and could score from anywhere on the court. Petrovic and Kenny Anderson gave New Jersey a great one-two punch in the backcourt.

  • Kenyon Martin — 6′ 9″ Forward/Center
    Born: 12/30/1977
    Played for Team: 2000–01 to 2003–04
    Jason Kidd may have been the leader of the Nets during their two trips to the NBA Finals, but the player who ruled the backboards was Kenyon Martin. His aggressive play gave his teammates a boost at key moments in the playoffs.

More Fun Facts

Buck Williams takes a peek at the scoreboard. Had the Nets been able to keep Julius Erving and Bernard King in the 1980s, they would have had one of the greatest frontcourts in history. (Fleer Corp.)

  • DOCTOR OF DEFENSE
    One of the great milestones in basketball is reaching 200 blocked shots or 200 steals in a season. Four different Nets have had 200-plus blocks in a season and four have had 200-plus steals. Only Julius “Dr. J” Erving—with 204 blocks in 1973–74 and 207 steals in 1975–76—is on both lists.

  • THE BUCK STOPS HERE
    During his eight seasons as a Net, Buck Williams set a number of career records that still stand. They include most games (635), points (10,440), free throws (2,476), and rebounds (7,576). He also holds the team records for turnovers (1,811) and fouls (2,244).

  • BACK TO THE FUTURE
    In 1968, the New Jersey Americans tried to move to Newark, NJ, but could not find a suitable home court. They moved to Long Island instead and became the New York Nets. The team ended up playing in Newark from 2010 to 2102 before its move to Brooklyn.

League Leaders

If Dr. J’s afro had been any bigger, he’d have needed a bigger card! (Topps, Inc.)

Kendall Gill shoots on the run. He was a deadly scorer and a popular player with New Jersey fans. (Topps, Inc.)

  • SCORING
    1973–74 Julius Erving 27.4*
    1975–76 Julius Erving 29.3*

  • ASSISTS
    1970–71 Bill Melchionni 8.3*
    1971–72 Bill Melchionni 8.4*
    1977–78 Kevin Porter 10.2**
    2002–03 Jason Kidd 8.9
    2003–04 Jason Kidd 9.2

  • STEALS
    1974–75 Brian Taylor 2.8*
    1982–83 Micheal Ray Richardson 2.8***
    1984–85 Micheal Ray Richardson 3.0
    1998–99 Kendall Gill 2.7

    Steals did not become an official statistic until 1973–74.

  • BLOCKED SHOTS
    1977–78 George Johnson 3.4
    1996–97 Shawn Bradley 3.4****

    Blocks did not become an official statistic until 1973–74.

    * ABA Leader
    ** Also played for the Detroit Pistons
    *** Also played for the Golden State Warriors
    ****Also played for the Dallas Mavericks

Playing for the Championship

Kenyon Martin and Jason Kidd represent the Nets on the cover of the 2003 NBA Finals program. It was their second straight trip to the championship series. (National Basketball Association)

NETS in the FINALS

American Basketball Association

SEASON OPPONENT SCORE
1971–72 Indiana Pacers Lost 2–4
1973–74 Utah Stars Won 4–1
1975–76 Denver Nuggets Won 4–2

National Basketball Association

SEASON OPPONENT SCORE
2001–02 Los Angeles Lakers Lost 0–4
2002–03 San Antonio Spurs Lost 2–4

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