Anthony Johnson
Anthony Johnson, angled. (AP)
NBA journeyman Anthony Johnson spent two years on the Nets roster, with the Nets making the NBA finals both season. The Nets failed to re-sign the seldom used guard in the 2003 off-season, and the franchise hasn’t been back to the finals since #CurseofAJ. Johnson would go on to play nine more seasons in the NBA with the Pacers, Mavs, Hawks, King s and finally Magic, with whom he played in the 2009 NBA Finals.
As a member of the Pacers in 2004, Johnson received a five game suspension for his role in the “Malice at the Palace.” He also exacted revenge on New Jersey as a Pacer in the first round of the 2006 Playoffs, scorching the Nets for a career-high 40 points in Game 6. The Nets, however, had the last laugh, defeating Indiana 96-92 to take the series 4-2.
Johnson holds the distinctions of being the first player in College of Charleston history to be drafted into the NBA and the First D-League Player to ever play in an NBA Finals. AJ had THREE separate stints with the Hawks (99-00; 01; 06-08) as well as two separate stints with the Kings (97-98; 08) and Magic (99-00; 08-10).
Jealous of Jason Collins having a twin, Anthony Johnson spread the rumor that he and former Net Trenton Hassell are twins (ed. note: conjecture).
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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).