Richard Jefferson
Richard Jefferson doing what he does best. (AP)
Like Collins, Richard Jefferson went to the NBA Finals his first two years in the league and was on the Nets from 2001-2008. Unlike Collins, Richard Jefferson has no twin and can run, jump and shoot the basketball (or could, at least). RJ had a solid tenure in Jersey, often making the roster of the “best players to never make an All-Star” squad, if such a team existed.
When the Nets sought to rebuild after parting ways with Jason Kidd, Richard Jefferson and his sizeable contract became expendable in 2008. In one of the worst trades in Nets history, which would have made this list if I didn’t have half-asian nephews, Richard Jefferson was shipped off to Milwaukee in exchange for Bobby Simmons and Yi Jianlian on draft day 2008. Jefferson was initially upset with the trade, saying he wanted to be a Net for life, until the Milwakuee Bucks PR staff presumably got to him, and he insisted he wanted to play in Wisconsin.
After one season as a Buck, RJ again packed his bags and shipped off to the Alamo in a trade for basketball ninja Bruce Bowen, Kurt Thomas and Fabricio Oberto. After two and a half years on the Spurs, Luke Walton’s college roommate was traded to the Warriors in exchange for Stephen Jackson. RJ has struggled since leaving Jersey, with his numbers declining across the board in the five subsequent seasons.
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NJFan4Ever
April 20, 2013
excellent article! the 01-04 era will forever be my favorite in nets history!
KaptainKevin
April 26, 2013
I was a HUGE Nets fan in the 70′s when they played at the Coliseum. I was fortunate enough to attend the final ABA game when they beat the Nuggets for the last ABA title. I’m so glad they’re in Brooklyn and cannot wait for the Isles to join them!!!
bobby orr 4
April 29, 2013
Believe Renaldo Balkman was drafted by genius Isiaih Thomas( not Nets)
William Rausch
April 29, 2013
Right you are. The Knicks drafted Balkman, but the pick came from The Raptors, who got it from the Nets (in the VC trade), who got it from Denver in the Kenyon Martin trade (as the article says).