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Inside The Nets

Who Are the 5 Best Shooting Guards in Brooklyn Nets History?

Who are the best shooting guards in Brooklyn Nets history?
Jan 19, 2005; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New Jersey Nets forward Vince Carter (15) with the ball up the court against the Milwaukee Bucks at Continental Airlines Arena. Credit: Lou Capozzola-USA TODAY NETWORK
Jan 19, 2005; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New Jersey Nets forward Vince Carter (15) with the ball up the court against the Milwaukee Bucks at Continental Airlines Arena. Credit: Lou Capozzola-USA TODAY NETWORK | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

In this story:

From high-flying specialists to microwave scorers, the Brooklyn Nets and New Jersey Nets had several shooting guards light it up night in and night out, alongside many great point guards.

Some of them have registered MVP type of seasons for their efforts.

Who are they? Let's take a look.

5. John Williamson

John Williamson was part of two New York Nets squads who won the ABA championship in 1974 and 1976.

He scored 28 points, including 16 in the fourth quarter, of the Nets' Game 6 win of the 1976 ABA Finals, helping New York secure the championship.

4. Joe Johnson

Joe
Apr 1, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Joe Johnson (7) looks to pass while being defended by Houston Rockets guard Isaiah Canaan (1) during the second quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Joe Johnson was one of the smoothest scorers to ever put on a Nets uniform, given his killer crossover, ability to post up smaller guards and beautiful floater.

Johnson hit a plethora of game-winning shots and consistently delivered in the playoffs during his time in Brooklyn.

3. Dražen Petrović

Dražen Petrović's life was tragically cut short, but he was well on his way to becoming one of the most lethal scorers in NBA history with his limitless range and quick release, as his fearless attitude earned the respect of Michael Jordan.

Petrović erupted for 40 points in his first playoff game as a Net,

2. James Harden

Harden
Jun 1, 2021; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets shooting guard James Harden (13) reacts after a basket against the Boston Celtics during the second quarter of game five of the first round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports | USA TODAY Sports

James Harden quickly emerged as an MVP candidate in his early days as a Net, sharing the floor with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.

Harden especially built his case when Durant went down with an injury, helping the Nets go 17-3 while averaging 28.4 points, 10.9 assists and 9.5 rebounds per game in those games.

Harden thrived as the Nets' lead playmaker, consistently setting up his teammates for clean looks.

Harden's time in Brooklyn wasn't very long, but Nets fans got to see a glimpse of The Beard's vintage self.

1. Vince Carter

VC
Jan 19, 2005; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New Jersey Nets forward Vince Carter (15) with the ball up the court against the Milwaukee Bucks at Continental Airlines Arena. Credit: Lou Capozzola-USA TODAY NETWORK | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Vince Carter was mostly known for his time with the Toronto Raptors, but some could argue that the best basketball he's ever played in his career came in a Nets uniform.

Carter averaged 27.5 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game in his first 57 games in New Jersey, helping a Nets team that fell as many as 12 games under .500 earn the No. 8 seed with a 42-40 record.

Though Carter never helped the Nets get past the second round of the playoffs, his electrifying dunks and acrobatic layups created a ton of excitement that generations of Nets fans will always cherish.

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Published
Sameer Kumar
SAMEER KUMAR

Sameer Kumar covers the NBA and specializes in providing analysis on player performance and telling stories beyond the numbers. He graduated from SUNY Oswego with a B.A. in Broadcasting & Mass Communication.