This sub has been toxic lately, the vibes are bad and we’re like passengers stranded on an island after a plane crash. Work’s been slow, kid’s in daycare, so I wanted to do a positive Nets related exercise for myself as they’ve been a big part of my life and now sharing it with you.
Hope we all can take a step back and realize, this is only a moment in Nets history and no matter how grim it looks now, it will get better, unless they move us away from the area. **Also fuck the Knicks.**
Would love to hear about what your favorite memories are of your time as a Nets fan. Here are mine in order from when it happened:
1. **Any alley-oop from Jason Kidd to Kenyon Martin.** There is no other play I would use to exemplify what the early 2000s Nets were. In an era of isolation and slow play, they were a fast break energy team, led by the dynamic duo of Kidd and Kenyon. Their signature off the backboard alley oop would send the crowd into the frenzy and send a spark into the rest of the team. Felt like one of the 3rd quarter Warrior runs where everyone suddenly became in-sync. Kidd was the conductor of the whole team, but Kenyon was the heart and soul.
Here’s some alley oops: https://youtu.be/D3xoDBiEHeY?si=sbAteppLm1uG-_nG
2. **Game 5 of the first round of the 2002 NBA Playoffs against the Pacers.** It’s win or go home, the Nets are up 3 with 5 seconds left, Nets rookie Richard Jefferson steps to the line. He has a chance to send the #1 seeded Nets to the second round, something that hasn’t happened since the 1983-1984 season. He chokes and misses both, the ball gets into his Reggie’s hands and he banks it in after the buzzer from near half court. The refs count it, there’s no in-game replays, the game is going into overtime. The kid in front of me is having a full on meltdown calling for Richard Jefferson to be banned from the state of New Jersey. That might have been the loudest the Continental Airlines Arena ever got. Thankfully, the Nets went on to win in double overtime and make it all the way to the NBA finals.
The play: https://youtu.be/WBhC1gMTsc8?si=e6bqAJz0HYZI3dRS
3. **The last game the Nets played in New Jersey.** The days of Jason Kidd were long gone. You think vibes now are bad? The team not only sucked, but for 2 years we knew this team was being taken away from us. The attendance was consistently bottom 3 in the league and the ticket prices were cheaper than a burger off the McDonald’s dollar menu. The Nets had moved from the Izod Center to Prudential in Newark, a stadium built for a hockey team. I can remember the atmosphere that night, it was the epitome of Chris Christie’s remarks to them leaving “good riddance”.
I certainly have more fond memories of the Nets, but this was the last Nets game I went to with my dad. He’s still alive so its not a sad story, but he refuses to make the trek out to Brooklyn. I was fortunate enough to be able to go to countless games with him growing up. It’s the reason I love the sport of basketball, the reason I love the Nets and always will.
TV Segment of the Final Game: https://youtu.be/_uRe08Gp6NQ?si=uCXFGfoJJZdp1yu6
4. **Kyrie’s first game as a Net.** However you feel about the man and how he destroyed this franchise’s championship dream, he was in the words of Stephen A Smith, box office. It was a pleasure watching his game on a night to night basis and there was no better night for me than his first game. There was debate amongst Nets fans if we should replace DLo with Kyrie and in one night it became apparent we made the right decision.
Kyrie goes off for 50 points, the Barclays was rocking as he’s making ridiculous 3s, crossovers, and layups. We entered a new era of Nets basketball, and it was going to be a great (as far as we knew). Wanted so badly for that game winner to go in, even so, it was a magical night of Nets basketball. It was one of those games I’ll never forget where I was watching it.
Here’s the game: https://youtu.be/B1r6tgpxEwk?si=c37nDydk9RrrJIIj
5. **I got to see the Big 3 in person only one time.** Game 2 of the first round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs against the Celtics. The ball was popping, everyone was in sync, I was witnessing one of the greatest NBA teams in history playing at peak performance. The irony is, the best player in that game was Smoking Joe Harris. He single handily started the blowout with 16 in the first half. Finished with 25 pts and 7 3 pointers. Kinda wish they didn’t blow them out so I could’ve seen more of the Big 3, I remember telling my wife at least we can see them next season…
It made it special that Joe was the one leading this Big 3. He was the only guy left from the rebuild after we lost Dinwiddie (to injury), Levert, Jarrett, and DLo. Felt like a proud father watching his son not only play with the big boys but be the stand out.
Video of him going off: https://youtu.be/4HRHein-NQU?si=Mfufl8c54j6sDkeN
Other great memories: – Marbury being the best player in the world in my eyes. – Sly the Mascot – Sweeping our way to the Finals – Keith Van Horn’s 4 pt play – Vince Carter’s 9 3 pointers in a game – Acquiring Deron Williams and getting rid of him – Joe Harris beating Steph and Klay in the 3pt contest – Durant’s tip toes – Joe Jesus Game Winners
by UnitedStateOfDenmark
6 Comments
Love the write-up! Can tell you’re an OG fan. Top 5 is personal, obviously considering what games I attended, but my most memorable in-game experience has to be Devin Harris’ halfcourt buzzer beater to beat Philly. I still remember just waiting for them to see whether it was good or not because it was so close to the lights going off that you couldn’t tell in real time. Then ref signaled it good, and the crowd went wild – awesome experience.
I don’t think anything will ever top KD’s 49 point Game 5 triple double against Milwuakee in 2021 for me. One of the most dominant performances in playoff history. I was so sure we were gonna win it all lol
I’m sure there are 5 but the few that really stick out in my head –
1. That game 5 in 2004 playoffs against the pistons. I remember it being an amazing game. Scal before he became a jock rider for the Celtics. Absolutely crazy game. It so memorable probably because it also resulted in the loss the rest of the series.
2 Nets Kings when RHJ hit that corkscrew layup after the crazy comeback. I remember staying up to watch that game and wondering why I was staying up. And now I’ll never forget it.
3 Joe Johnson crab dribble game to drop Paul Pierce. I don’t remember that game but I still think it was one of the nastiest crossover drops in nba history
Nice list.
For me
Dlo and RHJ comeback in Sac. Was at the game.
Vince Carter game winner in Utah and all his memorable raptors revenge games
KD 49 point loss. So close yet so far.
Brook for D Lo trade and kyrie kd signings.
And getting Brooks and Ryan Andersons autographs their rookie season
Jordan Farmar game winning 3 in the meadowlands
My 4 personal favorite Nets memories all happen to be with my same friend.
* 1st was last game in NJ being up top and at the end of my row was a guy dressed as Kim Kardashian holding up a poster w/ “Please take me back Kris. I’m sorry!”.
* 2nd was April 2006 when LeBron went off in the 4th for 18pts and stopped the Nets win streak at 14 just 1 win shy of their franchise record.
https://www.espn.com/nba/game/_/gameId/260408017
As we walked out of the arena my friend was all distraught and said it’s all his fault we lost the game. I put my hand on his shoulder looked him square in the eye and said “You’re damn right it’s your fault.” then continued to the car giggling to myself.
* 3rd was in the same 2005-06 season Cliff Robinson came to bowl at the place I worked at growing up. Me and my friend were both working that night as Desk/Porter and couldn’t figure out why this guy looked so familiar until it clicked.
We didn’t bother Uncle Cliff too much but he was an awesome person when we did initially and the pitcher of beer in his hand looked like a mug in mine.
* 4th was a few week later when we both felt like stalkers after my uncle invited us with him to a Nets game after he got 4 free lower bowl seats from his friend.
Wasn’t too long into warmups when Uncle Cliff noticed us 2 and waved. He was never seen at the bowling alley again.