Celebrating the New Jersey Nets
We decided to make yesterday #NJNetsDay on Twitter to appreciate some of the good memories from the old days.
By Anthony Puccio Aug 7, 2018, 7:30am EDT
Share All sharing options for: Celebrating the New Jersey Nets
Ah nostalgia, my old friend. NBA TV featured the Nets on Sunday during their feature called "Team Day", and showed some of the best games in franchise history.
Game 2 Finals victory against the Spurs (The Nets' first Finals victory in the NBA).
Vince Carter's famous 46-point triple-double game against the Wizards, the first time in 17 years that two teammates, he and Jason Kidd, had triple doubles in the same game.
Game 5 of the 2002 playoffs: An elimination game against the Indiana Pacers when Reggie Miller hit a near halfcourt shot to send it to overtime. The Nets ultimately prevailed, 120-109.
The Nets last championship, led by Dr. Julius Erving and the New York Nets at Nassau Coliseum.
It was a nice trip down memory lane for those who have been following the Nets for more than the six seasons they've been in Brooklyn. So, since there aren't many days to celebrate the Nets history both in New York and New Jersey, we decided to start a movement called #NJNetsDay on Twitter.
Here were just a few of the responses:
T.J. Kidd, Jason Kidd's first son...
There are so many I really don't know where I can start. Haha. But let's start with these. Press Conferences were always fun. I have so many amazing memories @ that practice facility. Also @ the meadowlands as well. Kmart is the man and like family to me also. #NJNetsDay pic.twitter.com/fFTnggtKTR
— TJ Kidd (@TJKidd23) August 5, 2018
(Cont.) There were moments like this when I got to meet @kobebryant or when I got to become friends with #JayZ or @Diddy .. Or got to sit next to #BruceWillis.. So many fun memories.. #NJNetsDay pic.twitter.com/UMEbPMnO5b
Longtime fans...
Being called out by Ian Eagle as the president of the Yinka Dare fan club last game of 96-97 season. #NJNETSDAY pic.twitter.com/QnhEPbd9I3
— Evan (@evanmhi) August 5, 2018
Way too many memories to pick 4 for #NJNetsDay but here are some of my favorites
- Going all out at the facepainting station before a game
- Meeting Vince Carter
- Dancing for the team and getting shot by the legendary @natlyphoto
- Winning Brook Lopez's shoe at Prudential Center pic.twitter.com/UFk7fO2015
— X-PHAZE (@X_Phaze) August 5, 2018
Here are some of my blast of the past #Nets memories. #NJNetsDay pic.twitter.com/1AwxAwlqwD
— Dawn M Risueño (@Jeannie2321) August 6, 2018
Some friends from overseas...
Que de souvenirs.. #NJNetsDay ❤️ pic.twitter.com/TTrKAPQuJS
— Brooklyn Nets France (@BrooklynNets_Fr) August 5, 2018
#NJNetsDay pic.twitter.com/hA76Lgphg8
— Nets Brasil (Offseason) (@BrasilNets) August 5, 2018
Their banners hanging in the rafters may be black and white, not red, white and blue ... which is wrong, wrong, wrong. They don't have a jersey that says "NETS" on the front. And, until recently, they hardly celebrated the history of their best player Jason Kidd and the team he brought to the Finals two consecutive years after joining a 26-win season.
New Jersey seems so long ago, yet it wasn't. Games didn't sell out, including Finals games. Merchandise was bottom-five in the NBA almost every year leading up to Brooklyn. Jason Kidd quite literally pulled a power play and tried to become GM of the team after one year of coaching, finding his way to Milwaukee not long after in what was an ugly breakup between the two sides.
There ARE reasons why things are the way they are.
That said, they might be in Brooklyn now and it's ALL about Brooklyn, which is fine, but I think everybody from Brooklyn would agree: You never forget where you came from.
While we're at it... How great would it be if the Nets brought these jerseys back? pic.twitter.com/LKvWu8TtOT
— Anthony Puccio (@APOOCH) August 5, 2018
(Fill the red with black or white and switch "NEW JERSEY" to "NETS" in the old font. Wouldn't that be pretty cool?)
There are some indications of a slight change. The Nets will celebrate Kidd's —and Rod Thorn's— enshrinement in the Basketball Hall of Fame next month and word is that "legacy" is no longer a dirty word in marketing the team. And maybe it's time for Mikhail Prokhorov to apologize for that ill-worded message he had for Kidd in 2014. It's time for memory to be restored.
In ESPN Rookie Power Rankings, three Nets in top 20 at midway point
Kyrie Irving fined $25,000 for 'obscene' exchange with Cavs fan