Doug Pensinger /Allsport
These five legends are known for their incredible play on different teams, but here we take a look back at their time with the Brooklyn Nets
The Brooklyn Nets, formally known as the New Jersey Nets, are composed of superstars. From the sharpshooting Kevin Durant to Kyrie Irving, who possesses handles that have left many defenders in awkward positions. The Nets have come a long way from being in the shadow of their cross-city rival the New York Knicks. Durant and Irving’s star power alone is sure to sell out arenas in any city.
With the addition of these superstars come new fans, and many may not know that before there was Durant, and Irving, and before the Nets moved to Brooklyn, the Nets were once home to these three NBA legends.
3. Stephon Marbury on the Brooklyn Nets (1999-2000)
The Brooklyn native, Stephen Marbury, was traded to the Nets in 1999 in a nine-player deal involving the Timberwolves and Milwaukee Bucks. Marbury and the Timberwolves were at odds because Kevin Garnett signed a $126 million rookie extension, which left them with the max offer of $70 million for Marbury on his next contract. Between Marbury’s camp being offended by the deal and him no longer wanting to be in Minnesota, he decided to force a trade to the Nets.
The Nets were a struggling team. They were 3-15 to start the season and were in desperate need of someone who could turn the ailing franchise around. Lewis Katz, one of the Nets owners, at the time felt Marbury was the perfect guy for this role, according to Nets then-coach, John Calipari, per the NY Times.
”Marbury is a fighter,” he said. ”He’s a warrior. He’s a leader. He’s fearless.
Adding Marbury to the Nets did not make much of a difference. The Nets would go a measly 31-51 and 26-56 in the two full seasons that Marbury was a part of the team.
In 2001 Marbury was traded by the Nets to the Phoenix Suns for Jason Kidd. Although Marbury’s stint with the Nets was short-lived, and his tenure with the team did not produce the results the owners may have wanted, he did manage to average 22 points a game and be voted an NBA All-Star.