Classic Pics of New Jersey Nets Basketball

SI Staff | Apr 23, 2012

Classic Pics of New Jersey Nets Basketball /

Classic Pics of New Jersey Nets Basketball

Bernard King

The Nets are leaving New Jersey after this season for a new home in Brooklyn. The franchise -- which played one season as the ABA's New Jersey Americans (1967-68) and nine as the New York Nets (1968-77) -- moved to New Jersey for good ahead of the 1977-78 NBA season. As residents of the Garden State say farewell to their hometown team, SI looks at some classic photos of the New Jersey Nets. Bernard King was drafted by the Nets in 1977 with the seventh overall pick. He made an immediate impact, averaging 24 points per game on his way to a spot on the All-Rookie Team.

John Williamson

John Williamson joined King as the Nets top players during their early years in New Jersey. The shooting guard was traded to Indiana during the 1976-77 season and traded back the following year to help provide scoring punch.

Phil Jackson

After playing 10 seasons with the Knicks, Jackson spent the final two seasons of his career (1978-80) with the Nets.

Eddie Jordan

Eddie Jordan dribbles the ball up court during a 1979 game against the Celtics. Jordan later joined the team's coaching staff and was a part of the team that advanced to the 2002 and 2003 Eastern Conference championships.

Mike Gminski and Mike O'Koren

Duke's Mike Gminski (left) and North Carolina's Mike O'Koren shake hands after learning they were both drafted by the New Jersy Nets. Gminski went on to spend eight seasons with the team (1980-88) while O'Koren played six full seasons (1980-86) and a four-game stint with the team in the final year of his career (1988).

Darryl Dawkins

Few members of the Nets had as much personality as Darryl Dawkins. The center, known as "Chocolate Thunder," played five seasons in New Jersey (1982-87) but only had two productive, injury-free seasons.

Edward Koch, Albert King and Bernard King

New York City Mayor Edward Koch keeps the ball away from brothers Bernard King (left) of the New York Knicks and Albert King of the New Jersey Nets. The mayoral basketball demonstration was part of the kickoff for the 1983 Mobile Big Apple Games.

Sam Bowie

After four injury-plagued seasons in Portland, Sam Bowie joined the Nets in 1989 in exchange for Buck Williams. In four seasons in New Jersey, Bowie averaged 12.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game.

Drazen Petrovic

Drazen Petrovic lays on the couch during a 1991 photo shoot. Petrovic was one of the first Europeans to become an NBA star, though his life was tragically cut short in a 1993 car accident.

Kenny Anderson

The Nets drafted Kenny Anderson with the second overall pick in the 1991 draft. The Georgia Tech product spent five seasons in New Jersey, highlighted by his appearance in the 1994 All-Star game.

Chuck Daly and Kenny Anderson

Chuck Daly, who coached the Nets from 1992-94, argues with a referee while Kenny Anderson looks on. Daly led the Nets to an 88-76 record in his two seasons in New Jersey.

Derrick Coleman

Few players had more natural talent than Derrick Coleman, who was drafted first overall in 1990 and spent five seasons with the Nets (1990-95). He won the 1991 Rookie of the Year award and was named to one All-Star team (1994), but was considered a disappointment for his lack of effort on the court.

Shawn Bradley

At 7-foot-6, Shawn Bradley is the tallest player to don a Nets uniform. The former BYU standout spent two seasons in New Jersey (1995-97).

Jayson Williams

After two unsuccesful seasons in Philadelphia, the Nets acquired center Jayson Williams for two draft picks. After struggling in his first three seasons in New Jersey, Williams excelled in 1997-98, making the All-Star Game while averaging 12.9 points and 13.6 rebounds per game. He retired the following season after a career-ending leg injury.

John Calipari

John Calipari is named the New Jersey Nets' new head coach and Executive Vice President of Basketball during a 1996 press conference. He compiled a 72-112 record in two-plus seasons before being fired and returning back to the college ranks.

John Calipari, Sam Cassell and Kendall Gill

Sam Cassell and Kendall Gill talk with John Calipari during a 1997 game against the Trail Blazers.

Bill Clinton and Jayson Williams

President Bill Clintonand Jayson Williams joke around while addressing students and faculty at Malcolm X Shabazz High School in Newark, N.J. Other Nets players in the background include Kerry Kittles (far left) and Kendall Gill (far right).