A History of the Nets: From Teaneck to Brooklyn

by Arcadia Publishing

Overview

Relive the Ups and Downs of the Storied Saga of the Nomadic Nets

The Nets have led a wandering existence spanning over five decades. The team has been known as the New Jersey Americans, New York Nets, New Jersey Nets and now Brooklyn Nets, while constantly relocating throughout the New York metropolitan area. Though often plagued by instability and futility, the franchise has celebrated iconic moments in the course of ABA and NBA history. Julius Erving's legendary play led the team to a pair of ABA titles in 1974 and 1976. The meteoric rise of European superstar Dražen Petrović followed by his tragic death in 1993 is etched into basketball fans' hearts worldwide. Jason Kidd's uncommon will steered New Jersey to back-to-back NBA Finals appearances in 2002 and 2003. An enlightening phone call from NBA commissioner David Stern in 1997 paved the way for the team's move to Brooklyn in 2012.

Author Rick Laughland charts the brutal lows and exuberant highs throughout the history of the Nets.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781467147835
Publisher:	Arcadia Publishing SC
Publication date:	07/11/2022
Series:	Sports
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Rick Laughland has been front and center in the New York sports scene, covering the Brooklyn Nets, New York Jets, New York Mets and New York Giants as a beat reporter over the past decade. Laughland's work has been featured online via FOXSports and CBS Sports, along with broadcast appearances on FOX 5 TV in New York, Sirius XM Radio, FOXSports National Radio and FOXSports Radio New Jersey. Laughland currently operates an independent Brooklyn Nets blog at NetsInsider.com, with syndication on Bleacher Report, Hoopshype and Yardbarker. You can reach Rick at [e-mail] for any comments or inquiries. Laughland currently serves as an adjunct professor of marketing at his alma mater, Fairleigh Dickinson University. Rick enjoys spending time with his family and playing catch with his dog, Theo. In his free time, Rick can be found playing and watching the sport he loves most: basketball.

Table of Contents

Foreword Herb Turetzky 7

Foreword Brian Taylor 11

Acknowledgements 13

Introduction 15

1 Humble Beginnings: 1967-68 through 1969-70 17

2 An ABA Dynasty Is Born: 1969-70 through 1975-76 29

3 Collateral Damage of the Post-ABA-NBA Merger: 1976-77 through 1980-81 55

4 Rise to NBA Respectability: 1981-82 through 1985-86 64

5 NBA Dark Ages: 1986-87 through 1990-91 78

6 Return to Perennial Playoff Contention: 1991-92 through 1993-94 90

7 The Lost Seasons: 1994-95 through 1995-96 105

8 Team Identity Redefined: 1996-97 through 1997-98 113

9 NBA Lockout Discord, More Collateral Damage: 1998-99 through 1999-2000 128

10 NBA Championship Pursuit: 2000-01 through 2003-04 134

11 Big Three Era in New Jersey: 2004-05 through 2006-07 162

12 Playing Out the String in the Garden State: 2007-08 through 2011-12 177

13 Hello Brooklyn!: 2012-13 197

14 Big Three Era No. 2 Gone Awry: 2013-14 208

15 Blockbuster Trade Hangover: 2014-15 through 2015-16 215

16 Rebuilding the Right Way: 2016-17 through 2018-19 222

17 NBA Bubble-Pandemic Suspension: 2019-20 236

18 Championship Dreams: 2020-21 to the Present 244

Appendix: By the Numbers 263

References 267

About the Author 271