Inside The Nets

Looking back at Devin Harris’ intriguing 2009 All-Star nod as a Net

Savoring his chances as the Nets' newest lead guard, Devin burst towards an unforeseen All-Star bid.

Peter Sunjic

© Jim O'Connor-USA TODAY Sports

In 2008-09, 15 years ago, the New Jersey Nets (now the Brooklyn Nets) proudly sent a representative of the franchise to the All-Star Game.

And no, it's not Vince Carter. Despite ending the season with stellar star numbers of 20.8 points, 5.1 boards, and 4.7 assists, Vinsanity shockingly didn't make it to the cut of the Eastern Conference for his ninth career All-Star nod.

Interestingly, that Net who made it to the grand festivities at the Valley was Devin Harris.

In his first full season in NJ, Devin instantly rose to stardom

Devin was acquired by the Nets from the Dallas Mavericks in a package during the midseason of the 2007-08 campaign at the expense of franchise cornerstone Jason Kidd.

At first, New Jersey identified Harris as the point man of their future who could follow the footsteps of Kidd. But upon this belief, they weren't able to imagine that the then-25-year-old would instantly skyrocket into stardom.

In his first full season as a Net, Harris seized all of the momentum and opportunity that he had in his newest team. He sizzled a year of revelation in which he saw career-highs in almost all his statistical numbers. From his top-notch productions and impact on the team, Devin was honored as a member of the 2009 NBA All-Star for the East, the very first in his career.

A well-deserved All-Star nod

Playing as a reserve guard for the East, Harris enjoyed and played the most out of his chances in the event. For over 17 minutes of play coming off the bench, Harris chipped in 6 points, shot 3-of-6 from the field, and shared the court with fellow best players in the world.

Devin ended the 2008-09 season maintaining his career-bests in points (21.3), rebounds (3.3), and steals (1.7) to go with 6.9 assists, which only made his All-Star case that year a worthy one. Though he wasn't able to repeat this feat, which still makes many people believe that he is one of the unexpected players to make it to the All-Star Game, Devin still deserves respect and acknowledgment for what he delivered out of that dream individual season.

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Peter Sunjic
PETER SUNJIC

Peter's journey with basketball commenced in the first grade, and it has since evolved into an integral part of his life. Standing on the brink of a potential professional playing career, Peter ultimately chose to pursue a degree in Political Science and Journalism in Zagreb, Croatia. Despite this academic pursuit, his deep-rooted love for the game of basketball endured, undiminished. Now, as a writer and editor, Peter finds an avenue to channel his unwavering passion for basketball-related news and analysis. Whether it's deciphering the latest happenings or delving into the lore of old-school basketball, he covers every corner of the NBA world.

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