1995–96 New Jersey Nets season explained

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.

Draft picks

See main article: article and 1995 NBA draft.

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.

Regular season

Season standings

z – clinched division title

y – clinched division title

x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1995-96 NBA Records
width=100	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	—

Game log

1995–96 game logTotal: 30–52 (Home: 20–21; Road: 10–31)
1	November 3	@ Toronto	L 79–94	Anderson & Gilliam (13)	Armen Gilliam (16)	Kenny Anderson (8)	SkyDome 33,306	0–1
2	November 7	Portland	W 104–84	Armen Gilliam (16)	Jayson Williams (16)	Kenny Anderson (10)	Brendan Byrne Arena 16,152	1–1
3	November 8	@ Orlando	L 122–130 (3OT)	Armen Gilliam (20)	P. J. Brown (12)	Kenny Anderson (7)	Brendan Byrne Arena 16,152	1–2
4	November 10	@ Miami	L 80–106	Childs & Gilliam (12)	Armen Gilliam (11)	Chris Childs (6)	Brendan Byrne Arena 16,152	1–2 Player statistics Regular season 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: See also 1995–96 NBA season

Notes and References

1. https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NJN/1996.html 1995–96 New Jersey Nets
2. News: Wise . Mike . PRO BASKETBALL; Underclassmen Rule Atop N.B.A. Draft Board . The New York Times . June 29, 1995 . July 25, 2021.
3. News: Heisler . Mark . NBA Is a Young Man's Game: Draft: Smith, McDyess, Stackhouse, Wallace and Garnett Lead the Way . Los Angeles Times . June 29, 1995 . December 3, 2022.
4. News: Associated Press . 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 . June 29, 1995 . July 24, 2022.
5. News: Nakamura . David . Joe Goes West as Warriors Make Smith No. 1 Pick . The Washington Post . June 29, 1995 . June 3, 2023.
6. Web site: 1995 NBA Draft . Basketball-Reference . December 1, 2022.
7. News: Associated Press . PRO BASKETBALL; Nets Sign Fleming and Mahorn . The New York Times . October 10, 1995 . June 30, 2022.
8. News: PRO BASKETBALL; Fleming Signs with Nets . The New York Times . October 11, 1995 . November 18, 2022.
9. News: Willis . George . BASKETBALL; Nets' Coleman Sidelined . The New York Times . October 17, 1995 . July 21, 2017.
10. News: Associated Press . 'Minor' Heart Ailment Puts Nets' Coleman on Sideline . Los Angeles Times . October 17, 1995 . February 1, 2023.
11. News: Associated Press . Nets' Coleman to Check Irregular Heartbeat . Deseret News . October 19, 1995 . September 24, 2022.
12. News: Brown . Clifton . PRO BASKETBALL; Nets Grant Coleman's Wish with Trade to Sixers . The New York Times . December 1, 1995 . July 29, 2021.
13. News: Heisler . Mark . Coleman Dealt to Philadelphia: Pro Basketball: New Jersey Swaps Brilliant, But Unhappy Forward for Center Bradley in Six-Player Trade . Los Angeles Times . December 1, 1995 . December 3, 2022.
14. News: Nets' Coleman to 76ers for Bradley . The Washington Post . December 1, 1995 . September 24, 2022.
15. News: Associated Press . 76ers Trade Bradley for Coleman . Deseret News . December 1, 1995 . June 22, 2023.
16. News: Willis . George . BASKETBALL; The Other Cornerstone Drops: Anderson Is Traded . The New York Times . January 20, 1996 . July 29, 2021.
17. News: Associated Press . Cautious Nets Trade Anderson to Hornets . Los Angeles Times . January 20, 1996 . July 25, 2022.
18. News: Bembry . Jerry . Nets Trade Anderson to Hornets; Former All-Star Planned to Become a Free Agent; Gill, Reeves Go to N.J. . The Baltimore Sun . January 20, 1996 . December 3, 2022.
19. News: Nets Trade Anderson to Charlotte in Four-Player Deal . Associated Press . January 20, 1996 . June 22, 2023.
20. News: PRO BASKETBALL; Gill to Have Hand Surgery . The New York Times . February 16, 1996 . June 30, 2022.
21. News: Diamos . Jason . BASKETBALL; No More Gill, and Not Much of the Nets . The New York Times . April 10, 1996 . November 5, 2022.
22. News: Smith . Sam . Expanding on Bulls' Accomplishment . Chicago Tribune . April 15, 1996 . January 13, 2023.
23. News: NBA Games Played on February 8, 1996 . Basketball-Reference . January 2, 2023.
24. Web site: 1995–96 New Jersey Nets Schedule and Results. Basketball-Reference. July 1, 2021.
25. News: Kukoc Named Best of the Bench . The Washington Post . May 15, 1996 . January 30, 2023.
26. News: Isaacson . Melissa . Kukoč: Sixth Man Award 2nd Best to Starting Role . Chicago Tribune . May 15, 1996. October 7, 2022.
27. News: 1995–96 NBA Awards Voting . Basketball-Reference . January 2, 2022.
28. News: Roberts . Selena . O'Bannon's Low Profile a Reluctant Look . The New York Times . December 1, 1996 . March 1, 2017.
29. Web site: 1995–96 New Jersey Nets Roster and Stats. Basketball-Reference. July 1, 2021.
30. News: Nobles . Charlie . PRO BASKETBALL; Comments, Not Losses, May Finish Nets' Beard . The New York Times . April 16, 1996 . November 18, 2022.
31. News: Diamos . Jason . BASKETBALL; In Swift Move, Nets Drop Beard (and a Few Names) . The New York Times . April 23, 1996 . November 18, 2022.
32. News: Associated Press . Raptors, Nets Fire Coaches . Los Angeles Times . April 23, 1996 . October 12, 2023.
33. News: Bucks Sign Gilliam . The New York Times . August 7, 1996 . January 1, 2022.
34. News: Staff and Wire Reports . Bucks Pick Up Free Agent Gilliam . Los Angeles Times . August 7, 1996 . September 24, 2022.
35. News: Bucks Sign Gilliam to 4-Year Deal . The Washington Post . August 7, 1996 . January 13, 2023.
36. News: Brown . Clifton . PRO BASKETBALL; A New Backcourt: Childs and Houston Join the Knicks . The New York Times . July 14, 1996 . July 10, 2022.
37. News: Associated Press . Payton Stays in Seattle, Knicks Get a Backcourt . Los Angeles Times . July 15, 1996 . June 24, 2023.
38. News: Sheridan . Chris . Knicks Acquire Larry Johnson, Sign Houston and Childs . Associated Press . July 15, 1996 . September 24, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220929003031/https://apnews.com/article/9dfbf65421881a5d42176bdaaf4d2368 . September 29, 2022 . dead.
39. News: SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Brown Leaves Nets for the Heat . The New York Times . July 19, 1996 . September 24, 2022.
40. News: Associated Press . Even a P.J. Brown Can Strike It Rich . Los Angeles Times . July 19, 1996 . June 28, 2022.
41. News: Heat Add Brown, Keep Hardaway . SFGate . July 19, 1996 . June 24, 2023.
42. News: Staff and Wire Reports . Citadel Coach Suspended for Season . Los Angeles Times . August 6, 1996 . January 8, 2023.
43. News: Guest . Greta . Pistons Bring Rick Mahorn Back to Detroit . Associated Press . August 6, 1996 . June 24, 2023.
44. News: Myslenski . Skip . Pistons' New Look Beyond Cosmetic . Chicago Tribune . November 8, 1996 . September 18, 2022.
45. News: Nets Acquire Askew from Seattle . United Press International . July 16, 1996 . November 18, 2022.