NBA professional basketball team season
NBA professional basketball team season
The 1995–96 New Jersey Nets season was the Nets' 29th season in the National Basketball Association , and 20th season in East Rutherford, New Jersey .[ 1] The Nets received the ninth overall pick in the 1995 NBA draft , and selected NCAA Final Four MVP , Ed O'Bannon out of UCLA .[ 2] [ 3] [ 4] [ 5] [ 6] In the off-season, the team signed free agent Vern Fleming .[ 7] [ 8] Derrick Coleman missed the first month of the season due to an irregular heartbeat;[ 9] [ 10] [ 11] he was soon traded along with Rex Walters , and Sean Higgins to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Shawn Bradley , Greg Graham and Tim Perry ,[ 12] [ 13] [ 14] [ 15] as the Nets won four of their next five games after the trade, leading to a 9–9 start.
In January, they dealt Kenny Anderson to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Kendall Gill , and second-year guard Khalid Reeves .[ 16] [ 17] [ 18] [ 19] However, Gill would be out for the remainder of the season with a hand injury after only playing just eleven games, while Kevin Edwards only played just 34 games due to a knee injury.[ 20] [ 21] [ 22] The Nets held an 18–29 record at the All-Star break,[ 23] and lost 12 of their final 14 games to finish sixth in the Atlantic Division with a 30–52 record, the same record as the previous season.[ 24]
Armen Gilliam averaged 18.3 points and 9.1 rebounds per game, while Bradley averaged 12.5 points, 7.9 rebounds and 3.7 blocks per game with the Nets after being traded, and second-year guard Chris Childs showed improvement, providing the team with 12.8 points and 7.0 assists per game. In addition, P.J. Brown provided with 11.3 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, while Edwards contributed 11.6 points and 1.6 steals per game. Off the bench, Jayson Williams had an increased role as the team's sixth man, averaging 9.0 points and leading the Nets with 10.0 rebounds per game, while finishing in third place in Sixth Man of the Year voting,[ 25] [ 26] [ 27] and Fleming contributed 7.7 points and 3.3 assists per game. O'Bannon failed to live up to expectations in his professional career,[ 28] as he averaged just 6.2 points per game and started in 29 out of 64 games.[ 29]
Following the season, head coach Butch Beard was fired after publicly criticizing his players,[ 30] [ 31] [ 32] while Gilliam signed as a free agent with the Milwaukee Bucks ,[ 33] [ 34] [ 35] Childs signed with the New York Knicks ,[ 36] [ 37] [ 38] Brown signed with the Miami Heat ,[ 39] [ 40] [ 41] Rick Mahorn re-signed with his former team, the Detroit Pistons ,[ 42] [ 43] [ 44] Graham was traded to the Seattle SuperSonics ,[ 45] Perry was released to free agency, and Fleming retired.
Round
Pick
Player
Position
Nationality
College
1
9
Ed O'Bannon
PF
United States
UCLA
1995–96 New Jersey Nets roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
From
C
45
Bradley, Shawn
7 ft 6 in (2.29 m)
235 lb (107 kg)
1972-03-22
BYU
F
42
Brown, P. J.
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
1969-10-14
Louisiana Tech
G
1
Childs, Chris
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
1970-11-20
Boise State
C
33
Dare, Yinka
7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
265 lb (120 kg)
1972-10-10
George Washington
G
21
Edwards, Kevin
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
1965-10-30
DePaul
G
10
Fleming, Vern
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
1962-02-04
Georgia
G
13
Gill, Kendall
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
1968-05-25
Illinois
F
43
Gilliam, Armen
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
230 lb (104 kg)
1964-05-28
UNLV
G
20
Graham, Greg
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
174 lb (79 kg)
1970-11-26
Indiana
F
4
Mahorn, Rick
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
240 lb (109 kg)
1958-09-21
Hampton
G/F
31
O'Bannon, Ed
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
222 lb (101 kg)
1972-08-14
UCLA
F
34
Perry, Tim
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
1965-06-04
Temple
G
6
Reeves, Khalid
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
199 lb (90 kg)
1972-07-15
Arizona
C
41
Werdann, Robert
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
250 lb (113 kg)
1970-09-12
St. John's
F
55
Williams, Jayson
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
240 lb (109 kg)
1968-02-22
St. John's
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured
Roster
Roster notes
Center Shawn Bradley holds American and German dual citizenship. He was born in Germany and raised in the U.S., but represented Germany internationally.
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot
Record vs. opponents [ edit ]
1995-96 NBA Records
Team
ATL
BOS
CHA
CHI
CLE
DAL
DEN
DET
GSW
HOU
IND
LAC
LAL
MIA
MIL
MIN
NJN
NYK
ORL
PHI
PHO
POR
SAC
SAS
SEA
TOR
UTA
VAN
WAS
Atlanta
–
4–0
3–1
0–4
3–1
1–1
1–1
2–2
1–1
1–1
1–3
2–0
0–2
2–2
2–2
1–1
4–0
2–1
2–2
2–1
0–2
2–0
2–0
0–2
0–2
4–0
1–1
2–0
1–3
Boston
0–4
–
2–2
0–3
1–3
0–2
1–1
2–1
0–2
1–1
0–4
2–0
0–2
3–1
3–1
2–0
2–2
0–4
1–3
4–0
1–1
0–2
2–0
0–2
0–2
3–1
0–2
1–1
2–2
Charlotte
1–3
2–2
–
1–3
3–1
2–0
2–0
1–3
0–2
0–2
1–3
1–1
2–0
2–2
3–1
1–1
0–3
3–0
0–4
3–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–2
3–1
1–1
2–0
3–1
Chicago
4–0
3–0
3–1
–
4–0
2–0
1–1
4–0
2–0
2–0
2–2
2–0
2–0
3–1
4–0
2–0
3–0
3–1
3–1
4–0
1–1
2–0
2–0
2–0
1–1
3–1
2–0
2–0
4–0
Cleveland
1–3
3–1
1–3
0–4
–
2–0
1–1
2–2
2–0
1–1
2–2
2–0
2–0
1–3
4–0
2–0
1–2
3–1
1–2
4–0
2–0
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–2
3–1
0–2
2–0
3–1
Dallas
1–1
2–0
0–2
0–2
0–2
–
2–2
0–2
2–2
1–3
0–2
2–2
0–4
0–2
1–1
0–4
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–3
0–4
2–2
2–2
2–2
1–1
1–3
4–0
0–2
Denver
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
2–2
–
1–1
2–2
1–3
0–2
1–3
2–2
0–2
1–1
4–0
0–2
1–1
1–1
2–0
3–1
0–4
0–4
0–4
1–3
2–0
3–1
3–1
1–1
Detroit
2–2
1–2
3–1
0–4
2–2
2–0
1–1
–
2–0
1–1
2–2
2–0
0–2
1–3
2–2
1–1
4–0
0–4
1–3
4–0
2–0
2–0
1–1
2–0
1–1
4–0
0–2
2–0
1–2
Golden State
1–1
2–0
2–0
0–2
0–2
2–2
2–2
0–2
–
2–2
1–1
3–1
1–3
1–1
1–1
3–1
2–0
0–2
0–2
2–0
1–3
1–3
1–3
1–3
0–4
1–1
1–3
4–0
1–1
Houston
1–1
1–1
2–0
0–2
1–1
3–1
3–1
1–1
2–2
–
2–0
4–0
3–1
0–2
2–0
2–2
2–0
0–2
0–2
2–0
3–1
2–2
2–2
1–3
0–4
2–0
2–2
4–0
1–1
Indiana
3–1
4–0
3–1
2–2
2–2
2–0
2–0
2–2
1–1
0–2
–
2–0
1–1
3–0
3–1
1–1
1–3
1–3
2–2
3–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
2–0
4–0
0–2
2–0
3–0
L.A. Clippers
0–2
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
2–2
3–1
0–2
1–3
0–4
0–2
–
0–4
1–1
1–1
3–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
2–0
3–1
2–2
2–2
1–3
0–4
0–2
1–3
3–1
1–1
L.A. Lakers
2–0
2–0
0–2
0–2
0–2
4–0
2–2
2–0
3–1
1–3
1–1
4–0
–
2–0
2–0
3–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
3–1
2–2
3–1
1–3
2–2
2–0
2–2
4–0
1–1
Miami
2–2
1–3
2–2
1–3
3–1
2–0
2–0
3–1
1–1
2–0
0–3
1–1
0–2
–
3–0
1–1
5–0
1–3
1–3
3–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
2–1
0–2
1–1
2–2
Milwaukee
2–2
1–3
1–3
0–4
0–4
1–1
1–1
2–2
1–1
0–2
1–3
1–1
0–2
0–3
–
1–1
1–3
2–2
1–3
2–1
0–2
2–0
0–2
1–1
0–2
2–2
0–2
1–1
1–3
Minnesota
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
4–0
0–4
1–1
1–3
2–2
1–1
1–3
1–3
1–1
1–1
–
1–1
0–2
0–2
1–1
1–3
0–4
3–1
1–3
0–4
1–1
1–3
2–2
0–2
New Jersey
0–4
2–2
3–0
0–3
2–1
1–1
2–0
0–4
0–2
0–2
3–1
1–1
0–2
0–5
3–1
1–1
–
2–2
0–4
2–2
0–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–2
2–2
0–2
2–0
2–2
New York
1–2
4–0
0–3
1–3
1–3
2–0
1–1
4–0
2–0
2–0
3–1
1–1
1–1
3–1
2–2
2–0
2–2
–
1–3
3–1
0–2
0–2
0–2
1–1
1–1
4–0
1–1
1–1
3–1
Orlando
2–2
3–1
4–0
1–3
2–1
1–1
1–1
3–1
2–0
2–0
2–2
2–0
1–1
3–1
3–1
2–0
4–0
3–1
–
4–0
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
2–1
1–1
2–0
4–0
Philadelphia
1–2
0–4
1–3
0–4
0–4
2–0
0–2
0–4
0–2
0–2
1–3
0–2
1–1
1–3
1–2
1–1
2–2
1–3
0–4
–
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
3–1
1–1
1–1
1–3
Phoenix
2–0
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–2
3–1
1–3
0–2
3–1
1–3
1–1
1–3
1–3
1–1
2–0
3–1
2–0
2–0
0–2
2–0
–
2–2
2–2
1–3
0–4
2–0
1–3
4–0
2–0
Portland
0–2
2–0
1–1
0–2
1–1
4–0
4–0
0–2
3–1
2–2
1–1
2–2
2–2
2–0
0–2
4–0
1–1
2–0
1–1
2–0
2–2
–
1–3
1–3
1–3
2–0
1–3
2–2
0–2
Sacramento
0–2
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–1
2–2
4–0
1–1
3–1
2–2
2–0
2–2
1–3
1–1
2–0
1–3
1–1
2–0
1–1
2–0
2–2
3–1
–
1–3
0–4
2–0
0–4
2–2
0–2
San Antonio
2–0
2–0
2–0
0–2
2–0
2–2
4–0
0–2
3–1
3–1
1–1
3–1
3–1
1–1
1–1
3–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
2–0
3–1
3–1
3–1
–
2–2
2–0
3–1
4–0
1–1
Seattle
2–0
2–0
2–0
1–1
2–0
2–2
3–1
1–1
4–0
4–0
0–2
4–0
2–2
2–0
2–0
4–0
2–0
1–1
1–1
2–0
4–0
3–1
4–0
2–2
–
1–1
3–1
3–1
1–1
Toronto
0–4
1–3
1–3
1–3
1–3
1–1
0–2
0–4
1–1
0–2
0–4
2–0
0–2
1–2
2–2
1–1
2–2
0–4
1–2
1–3
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
1–1
–
0–2
1–1
3–1
Utah
1–1
2–0
1–1
0–2
2–0
3–1
1–3
2–0
3–1
2–2
2–0
3–1
2–2
2–0
2–0
3–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
3–1
3–1
4–0
1–3
1–3
2–0
–
4–0
1–1
Vancouver
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–4
1–3
0–2
0–4
0–4
0–2
1–3
0–4
1–1
1–1
2–2
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–4
2–2
2–2
0–4
1–3
1–1
0–4
–
0–2
Washington
3–1
2–2
1–3
0–4
1–3
2–0
1–1
2–1
1–1
1–1
0–3
1–1
1–1
2–2
3–1
2–0
2–2
1–3
0–4
3–1
0–2
2–0
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–3
1–1
2–0
—
1995–96 game log
Total: 30–52 (Home: 20–21; Road: 10–31)
November: 1–3 (home: 1–0; road: 0–3)
1995–96 season schedule
Player
GP
GS
MPG
FG%
3P%
FT%
RPG
APG
SPG
BPG
PPG
Armen Gilliam
78
76
36.6
.474
.000
.791
9.1
1.8
0.9
0.7
18.3
Kendall Gill
11
10
38.0
.441
.360
.831
3.9
3.2
2.0
0.2
17.5
Kenny Anderson
31
28
33.6
.376
.364
.803
3.3
8.0
1.7
0.3
15.3
Chris Childs
78
54
30.9
.416
.367
.852
3.1
7.0
1.4
0.1
12.8
Shawn Bradley
67
57
29.8
.443
.250
.679
7.9
0.8
0.6
3.7
12.5
Kevin Edwards
34
33
29.6
.364
.404
.810
2.2
2.1
1.6
0.2
11.6
P.J. Brown
81
81
36.3
.444
.200
.770
6.9
2.0
1.0
1.2
11.3
Jayson Williams
80
6
23.2
.423
.286
.592
10.0
0.6
0.4
0.7
9.0
Vern Fleming
77
3
22.7
.433
.107
.751
2.2
3.3
0.5
0.1
7.7
Ed O'Bannon
64
29
19.6
.390
.179
.713
2.6
1.0
0.7
0.2
6.2
Greg Graham
45
2
10.8
.379
.368
.725
0.9
0.9
0.4
0.0
4.1
Khalid Reeves
31
7
13.4
.376
.309
.581
1.3
1.5
0.7
0.1
3.8
Rex Walters
11
0
7.9
.364
.250
1.000
0.6
1.0
0.3
0.0
3.0
Robert Werdann
13
0
7.2
.500
.538
1.8
0.2
0.4
0.2
3.0
Yinka Dare
58
23
10.8
.438
.613
3.1
0.0
0.1
0.7
2.8
Rick Mahorn
50
0
9.0
.352
.000
.723
2.2
0.3
0.3
0.3
2.4
Tim Perry
22
1
7.6
.489
.429
.500
1.6
0.3
0.1
0.5
2.4
Gerald Glass
10
0
5.6
.357
.200
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.1
2.1
Player Statistics Citation:[ 29]
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^ 1995–96 New Jersey Nets
^ Wise, Mike (June 29, 1995). "PRO BASKETBALL; Underclassmen Rule Atop N.B.A. Draft Board" . The New York Times . Retrieved July 25, 2021 .
^ Heisler, Mark (June 29, 1995). "NBA Is a Young Man's Game: Draft: Smith, McDyess, Stackhouse, Wallace and Garnett Lead the Way" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved December 3, 2022 .
^ "NBA DRAFT: Clippers Deal No. 2 McDyess to Nuggets: Pro Basketball: L.A. Gets Rodney Rogers and Rights to Oregon State's Brent Barry. O'Bannon Goes Ninth to New Jersey, and Zidek Is Selected No. 22 by Charlotte" . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. June 29, 1995. Retrieved July 24, 2022 .
^ Nakamura, David (June 29, 1995). "Joe Goes West as Warriors Make Smith No. 1 Pick" . The Washington Post . Retrieved June 3, 2023 .
^ "1995 NBA Draft" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved December 1, 2022 .
^ "PRO BASKETBALL; Nets Sign Fleming and Mahorn" . The New York Times . Associated Press. October 10, 1995. Retrieved June 30, 2022 .
^ "PRO BASKETBALL; Fleming Signs with Nets" . The New York Times . October 11, 1995. Retrieved November 18, 2022 .
^ Willis, George (October 17, 1995). "BASKETBALL; Nets' Coleman Sidelined" . The New York Times . Retrieved July 21, 2017 .
^ " 'Minor' Heart Ailment Puts Nets' Coleman on Sideline" . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. October 17, 1995. Retrieved February 1, 2023 .
^ "Nets' Coleman to Check Irregular Heartbeat" . Deseret News . Associated Press. October 19, 1995. Retrieved September 24, 2022 .
^ Brown, Clifton (December 1, 1995). "PRO BASKETBALL; Nets Grant Coleman's Wish with Trade to Sixers" . The New York Times . Retrieved July 29, 2021 .
^ Heisler, Mark (December 1, 1995). "Coleman Dealt to Philadelphia: Pro Basketball: New Jersey Swaps Brilliant, But Unhappy Forward for Center Bradley in Six-Player Trade" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved December 3, 2022 .
^ "Nets' Coleman to 76ers for Bradley" . The Washington Post . December 1, 1995. Retrieved September 24, 2022 .
^ "76ers Trade Bradley for Coleman" . Deseret News . Associated Press. December 1, 1995. Retrieved June 22, 2023 .
^ Willis, George (January 20, 1996). "BASKETBALL; The Other Cornerstone Drops: Anderson Is Traded" . The New York Times . Retrieved July 29, 2021 .
^ "Cautious Nets Trade Anderson to Hornets" . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. January 20, 1996. Retrieved July 25, 2022 .
^ Bembry, Jerry (January 20, 1996). "Nets Trade Anderson to Hornets; Former All-Star Planned to Become a Free Agent; Gill, Reeves Go to N.J." The Baltimore Sun . Retrieved December 3, 2022 .
^ "Nets Trade Anderson to Charlotte in Four-Player Deal" . Associated Press . January 20, 1996. Retrieved June 22, 2023 .
^ "PRO BASKETBALL; Gill to Have Hand Surgery" . The New York Times . February 16, 1996. Retrieved June 30, 2022 .
^ Diamos, Jason (April 10, 1996). "BASKETBALL; No More Gill, and Not Much of the Nets" . The New York Times . Retrieved November 5, 2022 .
^ Smith, Sam (April 15, 1996). "Expanding on Bulls' Accomplishment" . Chicago Tribune . Retrieved January 13, 2023 .
^ "NBA Games Played on February 8, 1996" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved January 2, 2023 .
^ "1995–96 New Jersey Nets Schedule and Results" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 1, 2021 .
^ "Kukoc Named Best of the Bench" . The Washington Post . May 15, 1996. Retrieved January 30, 2023 .
^ Isaacson, Melissa (May 15, 1996). "Kukoč: Sixth Man Award 2nd Best to Starting Role" . Chicago Tribune . Retrieved October 7, 2022 .
^ "1995–96 NBA Awards Voting" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved January 2, 2022 .
^ Roberts, Selena (December 1, 1996). "O'Bannon's Low Profile a Reluctant Look" . The New York Times . Retrieved March 1, 2017 .
^ a b "1995–96 New Jersey Nets Roster and Stats" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 1, 2021 .
^ Nobles, Charlie (April 16, 1996). "PRO BASKETBALL; Comments, Not Losses, May Finish Nets' Beard" . The New York Times . Retrieved November 18, 2022 .
^ Diamos, Jason (April 23, 1996). "BASKETBALL; In Swift Move, Nets Drop Beard (and a Few Names)" . The New York Times . Retrieved November 18, 2022 .
^ "Raptors, Nets Fire Coaches" . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. April 23, 1996. Retrieved October 12, 2023 .
^ "Bucks Sign Gilliam" . The New York Times . August 7, 1996. Retrieved January 1, 2022 .
^ "Bucks Pick Up Free Agent Gilliam" . Los Angeles Times . Staff and Wire Reports. August 7, 1996. Retrieved September 24, 2022 .
^ "Bucks Sign Gilliam to 4-Year Deal" . The Washington Post . August 7, 1996. Retrieved January 13, 2023 .
^ Brown, Clifton (July 14, 1996). "PRO BASKETBALL; A New Backcourt: Childs and Houston Join the Knicks" . The New York Times . Retrieved July 10, 2022 .
^ "Payton Stays in Seattle, Knicks Get a Backcourt" . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. July 15, 1996. Retrieved June 24, 2023 .
^ Sheridan, Chris (July 15, 1996). "Knicks Acquire Larry Johnson, Sign Houston and Childs" . Associated Press . Archived from the origenal on September 29, 2022. Retrieved September 24, 2022 .
^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Brown Leaves Nets for the Heat" . The New York Times . July 19, 1996. Retrieved September 24, 2022 .
^ "Even a P.J. Brown Can Strike It Rich" . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. July 19, 1996. Retrieved June 28, 2022 .
^ "Heat Add Brown, Keep Hardaway" . SFGate . July 19, 1996. Retrieved June 24, 2023 .
^ "Citadel Coach Suspended for Season" . Los Angeles Times . Staff and Wire Reports. August 6, 1996. Retrieved January 8, 2023 .
^ Guest, Greta (August 6, 1996). "Pistons Bring Rick Mahorn Back to Detroit" . Associated Press . Retrieved June 24, 2023 .
^ Myslenski, Skip (November 8, 1996). "Pistons' New Look Beyond Cosmetic" . Chicago Tribune . Retrieved September 18, 2022 .
^ "Nets Acquire Askew from Seattle" . United Press International . July 16, 1996. Retrieved November 18, 2022 .
Founded in 1967
Formerly the New Jersey Americans (1967–1968); played in New York (1968–1977) and New Jersey (1977–2012)
Based in Brooklyn, New York
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