The Brooklyn Nets are still searching for their first NBA championship. Julius Erving led them to two of the final three ABA titles, but the franchise has struggled since the merger. The Nets made two NBA Finals in the early 2000s. Even with those, they have won just 12 playoff series in 49 years and just two since 2006.
Being chosen to an NBA franchise’s all-time starting five is a massive honor. 552 players have appeared in at least one game in Brooklyn and 14 Hall of Famers have suited up for the franchise. They may not be the most successful franchise, but there has been plenty of talent on the Nets.
Selecting their all-time starting five is not easy. This group was selected with a heavy focus on Basketball-Reference’s win shares. The advanced metric attempts to determine a player’s impact on winning and rewards longevity. Only stats with the Nets count, and this is how their all-time starting group shook out.
Point guard: Jason Kidd (2001-2008)
Kidd was a four-time All-Star and first-team All-NBA point guard before the Nets traded for him in 2001. His arrest forced the Suns to move on, and New Jersey was eager to acquire him. The Nets had won just one NBA playoff series before Kidd’s arrival, and the future Hall of Famer took them to new heights.
Nets accomplishments
- 5x All-Star
- 3x All-NBA (2x 1st team, 1x 2nd team)
- 6x All-Defense (2x 1st team, 4x 2nd team)
- 2x Eastern Conference champions
Stats with the Nets (per game)
14.6 points, 9.1 assists, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.9 steals in 37.0 minutes
Best moments
Kidd produced 56.6 win shares with the Nets, which is second in franchise history. He is the Nets career leader in assists and steals. He led them to the NBA Finals in his first two seasons and helped them win nine playoff series in six years.
During his time in New Jersey, the 6’4 guard was arguably the league’s best perimeter defender. He finished second in MVP voting in 2002 and narrowly lost to Tim Duncan. Kidd took the Nets to new heights and cemented his Hall of Fame case in New Jersey.
Kidd was by far the most impactful point guard in team history. Bill Melchionni, Kenny Anderson, and Deron Williams are the next best. J-Kidd has the edge in stats, impact on the franchise, and win shares. The Hall of Famer turned the Nets into a contender for the first time since their ABA days.
Shooting guard: Julius Erving (1973-1976)
Erving only played for the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA, but he spent three seasons in ABA with the New York Nets. It was arguably the three best years of his Hall of Fame career, and the Nets were the franchise to beat in ABA.
Nets accomplishments
- 3x MVP
- 3x All-Star
- 3x All-ABA 1st team
- 1x All-Defensive 1st team
- 2x ABA Champion
Stats with the Nets (per game)
28.2 points, 10.9 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 2.3 steals, and 2.1 blocks in 39.9 minutes
Erving produced an unbelievable 51.8 win shares in three seasons. He was far and away the best player in the ABA and led the Nets to two championships. He is third all-time in Nets history in win shares, despite playing just three seasons for the franchise.
Dr. J had plenty of competition for this spot, but there was no other choice. He led the franchise to their only two titles and was the best player in the league.
Erving is a Hall of Famer and part of the NBA's 75 greatest players of all time. Fans remember him most for leading the Sixers to an NBA championship in 1983, but he was a champion and legend with the Nets long before that.
Small forward: Richard Jefferson (2001-2008)
The Nets traded down from seventh overall in the 2001 NBA Draft to select Jefferson 13th overall. New Jersey got the 18th and 23rd selections in this trade. It allowed New Jersey to take Jason Collins and Brandon Armstrong. Collins played his first seven seasons with the Nets, but it was Jefferson that became an all-time great.
Nets accomplishments
- All-Rookie 1st team
- 2x Eastern Conference champion
Stats with the Nets (per game)
17.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 0.9 steals in 35.8 minutes per game
Jefferson beat out Nets legends Vince Carter and Kerry Kittles by playing a key role on two NBA Finals teams. He finished eighth in the Most Improved Player voting in 2003 and was their third-best player as the Nets lost to the Spurs for the championship. Jefferson twice averaged over 20 points per game and was a key shot-maker for Jason Kidd and the Nets.
Jefferson is fourth all-time in win shares in Nets history and produced 7.0 more than Vinsanity. Carter’s value over replacement player (VORP) was significantly higher than Jefferson's, but the team's wins swayed this head-to-head.
Richard Jefferson was traded to the Bucks in 2008 as New Jersey entered a rebuild. He is fourth in team history in points and in the top 15 in rebounds, assists, and steals. The 6’7 forward was part of the Nets' most successful stretch in the NBA, which made him the surprise inclusion on this all-time starting five.
Power forward: Buck Williams (1981-1989)
The Nets drafted the 6’8 forward third overall in 1981, and he instantly shined. Williams was an All-Star in his first season and nobody has played more games with the Nets.
Nets accomplishments
- 3x All-Star
- Rookie of the Year
- 1x All-NBA 2nd team
- 1x All-Defensive 2nd team
Stats with the Nets (per game)
16.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.9 steals, and 1.1 blocks in 36.4 minutes
Williams is the Nets franchise leader in win shares, minutes, free throws made, and rebounds. He is second behind Brook Lopez in points and field goals made. Ajax instantly took New Jersey out of a rebuild as they made their first NBA playoff appearance and were in the dance for five straight years.
Williams had some heavy competition from Derrick Coleman, but it was impossible to ignore his impact on the franchise to go with his outstanding stats. The 6’8 forward spent his first eight seasons with the Nets before being traded to Portland for Sam Bowie and a 1989 lottery pick where New Jersey took Mookie Blaylock.
Center: Brook Lopez (2008-2017)
The Nets selected Lopez with the tenth overall pick in 2008 and watched him blossom into an All-Star. The 7’1 big man was their franchise player and helped them make the transition from New Jersey to Brooklyn in 2012.
Nets accomplishments
- 1x All-Star
- All-Rookie 1st team
Stats with the Nets (per game)
18.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.7 blocks in 32.2 minutes
Nobody has played more than Lopez’s nine seasons with the Nets. He is the franchise leader in points, field goals made, and blocks. He quickly became a starter and spent nearly a decade anchoring the franchise. They made three playoff appearances and transformed Lopez into a feared offensive weapon.
Brook Lopez is fifth in win shares and VORP in Nets history. His 49.6 win shares were significantly more than Billy Paultz and Mike Gminski, which cemented his place on this list. There is no questioning Lopez’s longevity or his impact on the Nets.
Brooklyn traded him to the Lakers in 2017 in a four-player deal. It brought D’Angelo Russell to the Nets and later set up the Kevin Durant trade. It was not all sunshine, but Lopez deserves a place on this list.
Honorable mentions
The Nets had several players knocking on the door. Just looking at pure talent, Kevin Durant, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving would have been in serious consideration. Longevity matters. All of the players who made it spent significant time with the Nets and helped them win.
Others like Kerry Kittles, Vince Carter, and Derrick Coleman had strong win-share metrics, but could not edge their counterparts. Vinsanity will have his number retired by the Nets this season, but he just missed making this list.
The Brooklyn Nets will not be adding someone to their all-time starting five for multiple years. They are facing a total rebuild with plenty of work to do. Expect the front office to be busy, but have faith that Sean Marks and company can build another contender. It will just take some time.