1998–99 New Jersey Nets season explained

The 1998–99 NBA season was the Nets' 32nd season in the National Basketball Association, and 23rd season in East Rutherford, New Jersey.[1] On March 23, 1998, the owners of all 29 NBA teams voted 27–2 to reopen the league's collective bargaining agreement, seeking changes to the league's salary cap system, and a ceiling on individual player salaries. The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) opposed to the owners' plan, and wanted raises for players who earned the league's minimum salary. After both sides failed to reach an agreement, the owners called for a lockout, which began on July 1, 1998, putting a hold on all team trades, free agent signings and training camp workouts, and cancelling many NBA regular season and preseason games.[2] [3] [4] [5] [6] Due to the lockout, the NBA All-Star Game, which was scheduled to be played in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on February 14, 1999, was also cancelled.[7] [8] [9] [10] [11]

However, on January 6, 1999, NBA commissioner David Stern, and NBPA director Billy Hunter finally reached an agreement to end the lockout. The deal was approved by both the players and owners, and was signed on January 20, ending the lockout after 204 days. The regular season began on February 5, and was cut short to just 50 games instead of the regular 82-game schedule.[12] [13] [14] [15] [16]

In the off-season, the Nets signed free agents Eric Murdock and Scott Burrell,[17] [18] and acquired Jim McIlvaine from the Seattle SuperSonics.[19] [20] However, they struggled and got off to a poor start losing 18 of their first 21 games. Head coach John Calipari was fired after a 3–17 start, and was replaced with assistant Don Casey.[21] [22] [23] At mid-season, Sam Cassell, who was out with an ankle injury after four games,[24] [25] [26] was traded along with Chris Gatling to the Milwaukee Bucks in a three-team trade, as the Nets acquired Stephon Marbury from the Minnesota Timberwolves, and acquired Jamie Feick from the Bucks.[27] [28] [29] [30] As the season progressed, the Nets were dealt with a blow when Jayson Williams suffered a severe knee injury in April, and was out for the remainder of the season after 30 games.[31] [32] [33] Near the end of the season, the team signed free agent and 7' 7" center Gheorghe Mureșan,[34] as the Nets finished last place in the Atlantic Division with a disappointing 16–34 record.[35]

Marbury averaged 23.4 points and 8.7 assists per game with the Nets in 31 games, while second-year star Keith Van Horn averaged 21.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. In addition, Kerry Kittles provided the team with 12.9 points and 1.7 steals per game, while Kendall Gill contributed 11.8 points and 2.7 steals per game, and Williams averaged 8.1 points, 12.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game. Murdock provided with 7.9 points, 4.4 assists and 1.5 steals per game in only just 15 games due to a groin injury,[24] and Burrell contributed 6.6 points per game.[36]

Following the season, Murdock was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers,[37] [38] [39] and Rony Seikaly was released to free agency and then retired.[40] For the season, the Nets added new gray alternate road uniforms with dark navy side panels, which were slightly redesigned in 2000.[41]

Offseason

Draft picks

See main article: article and 1998 NBA draft.

The Nets had no draft picks in 1998.

Regular season

Season standings

z – clinched division title

y – clinched division title

x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1998-99 NBA Records
width=100TeamATLBOSCHACHICLEDALDENDETGSWHOUINDLACLALMIAMILMINNJNNYKORLPHIPHOPORSACSASSEATORUTAVANWAS
Atlanta3–0 3–0 3–1 2–1 0–1 0–0 1–2 0–0 1–0 3–1 1–0 0–0 0–3 1–2 0–0 1–2 2–1 2–2 2–1 1–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 2–1 0–0 1–0 2–1
Boston0–3 1–2 2–1 2–2 0–0 1–0 0–3 0–0 0–0 0–3 1–0 0–0 3–0 0–3 0–1 1–2 1–2 1–2 1–2 0–0 0–1 0–1 0–0 0–0 1–2 0–0 1–0 3–1
Charlotte0–3 2–1 2–1 2–1 0–0 0–0 3–0 0–1 0–0 1–2 0–0 0–1 1–2 2–2 0–0 3–0 1–3 1–2 1–2 1–0 1–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 2–1 1–0 0–0 2–1
Chicago1–3 1–2 1–2 0–3 0–1 0–0 0–3 0–0 0–0 0–3 1–0 0–0 1–2 1–3 0–0 2–1 1–2 0–3 1–2 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–1 0–1 1–2 0–1 1–0 1–2
Cleveland1–2 2–2 1–2 3–0 0–0 0–0 1–2 1–0 0–1 0–3 0–0 1–0 0–3 1–2 0–0 3–0 1–2 1–2 1–2 1–0 0–0 0–0 1–0 0–0 2–2 0–1 0–0 1–2
Dallas1–0 0–0 0–0 1–0 0–0 2–1 0–1 2–2 2–2 0–0 3–0 0–3 0–1 0–0 1–2 0–1 0–0 1–0 0–0 1–3 0–3 2–2 1–3 0–3 0–0 0–3 2–1 0–0
Denver0–0 0–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 1–2 0–0 1–3 0–4 0–1 3–0 1–2 0–1 1–0 0–3 1–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–3 0–3 0–3 0–4 2–2 0–0 1–2 3–1 0–1
Detroit2–1 3–0 0–3 3–0 2–1 1–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 2–1 0–0 0–0 2–1 2–1 0–1 2–1 2–1 0–4 1–3 1–0 0–0 0–0 0–1 1–0 2–1 1–0 0–0 2–1
Golden State0–0 0–0 1–0 0–0 0–1 2–2 3–1 0–0 0–3 1–0 2–1 1–2 0–0 0–1 2–2 0–0 0–0 0–1 0–0 1–2 2–2 1–2 0–3 1–2 0–0 0–4 4–0 0–0
Houston0–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 1–0 2–2 4–0 0–0 3–0 0–0 3–1 1–2 0–1 0–0 2–1 1–0 0–0 0–1 0–0 2–2 2–1 3–0 0–3 2–1 1–0 0–3 4–0 0–0
Indiana1–2 3–0 2–1 3–0 3–0 0–0 1–0 1–2 0–1 0–0 0–0 1–0 2–2 3–0 0–0 3–1 2–1 1–2 1–2 0–0 0–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 2–1 0–0 1–0 3–0
L.A. Clippers0–1 0–1 0–0 0–1 0–0 0–3 0–3 0–0 1–2 1–3 0–0 0–4 0–0 0–0 2–2 1–0 0–1 0–0 0–0 0–3 1–2 1–2 0–3 0–3 0–1 1–3 1–3 0–0
L.A. Lakers0–0 0–0 1–0 0–0 0–1 3–0 2–1 0–0 2–1 2–1 0–1 4–0 0–0 0–0 2–1 0–0 1–0 1–0 0–1 3–1 2–2 1–2 2–1 2–2 0–0 1–3 2–1 0–0
Miami3–0 0–3 2–1 2–1 3–0 1–0 1–0 1–2 0–0 1–0 2–2 0–0 0–0 2–1 0–1 3–1 2–2 2–1 2–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 3–0 0–1 0–0 3–0
Milwaukee2–1 3–0 2–2 3–1 2–1 0–0 0–1 1–2 1–0 0–0 0–3 0–0 0–0 1–2 1–0 2–1 2–1 1–2 1–2 0–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 1–0 3–1 0–0 0–0 2–1
Minnesota0–0 1–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 2–1 3–0 1–0 2–2 1–2 0–0 2–2 1–2 1–0 0–1 0–0 0–1 0–0 0–0 1–2 0–3 3–1 2–2 2–1 0–1 0–3 3–1 0–0
New Jersey2–1 2–1 0–3 1–2 0–3 1–0 0–1 1–2 0–0 0–1 1–3 0–1 0–0 1–3 1–2 0–0 0–3 0–3 1–2 0–0 0–1 0–0 0–0 1–0 2–1 0–0 0–0 2–1
New York1–2 2–1 3–1 2–1 2–1 0–0 0–0 1–2 0–0 0–0 1–2 1–0 0–1 2–2 1–2 1–0 3–0 0–3 3–1 1–0 0–0 0–1 0–0 0–0 1–2 0–0 0–0 2–1
Orlando2–2 2–1 2–1 3–0 2–1 0–1 0–0 4–0 1–0 1–0 2–1 0–0 0–1 1–2 2–1 0–0 3–0 3–0 1–2 0–0 0–0 1–0 0–1 0–0 1–2 0–0 0–0 2–1
Philadelphia1–2 2–1 2–1 2–1 2–1 0–0 0–0 3–1 0–0 0–0 2–1 0–0 1–0 1–2 2–1 0–0 2–1 1–3 2–1 0–0 0–1 1–0 0–1 0–1 2–1 0–0 1–0 1–2
Phoenix0–1 0–0 0–1 0–0 0–1 3–1 3–0 0–1 2–1 2–2 0–0 3–0 1–3 0–0 1–0 2–1 0–0 0–1 0–0 0–0 0–3 0–3 2–2 3–0 0–0 2–2 3–0 0–0
Portland0–0 1–0 0–1 0–0 0–0 3–0 3–0 0–0 2–2 1–2 1–0 2–1 2–2 0–0 0–0 3–0 1–0 0–0 0–0 1–0 3–0 4–0 1–3 2–2 0–0 1–2 4–0 0–0
Sacramento0–0 1–0 1–0 0–0 0–0 2–2 3–0 0–0 2–1 0–3 0–0 2–1 2–1 0–0 0–0 1–3 0–0 1–0 0–1 0–1 3–0 0–4 1–2 2–2 0–0 1–2 4–0 1–0
San Antonio0–0 0–0 0–0 1–0 0–1 3–1 4–0 1–0 3–0 3–0 0–0 3–0 1–2 0–0 0–0 2–2 0–0 0–0 1–0 1–0 2–2 3–1 2–1 2–1 0–1 2–1 3–0 0–0
Seattle0–0 0–0 0–0 1–0 0–0 3–0 2–2 0–1 2–1 1–2 0–0 3–0 2–2 0–0 0–1 1–2 0–1 0–0 0–0 1–0 0–3 2–2 2–2 1–2 0–0 2–2 2–1 0–1
Toronto1–2 2–1 1–2 2–1 2–2 0–0 0–0 1–2 0–0 0–1 1–2 1–0 0–0 0–3 1–3 1–0 1–2 2–1 2–1 1–2 0–0 0–0 0–0 1–0 0–0 0–0 1–0 2–2
Utah0–0 0–0 0–1 1–0 1–0 3–0 2–1 0–1 4–0 3–0 0–0 3–1 3–1 1–0 0–0 3–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 2–2 2–1 2–1 1–2 2–2 0–0 3–0 1–0
Vancouver0–1 0–1 0–0 0–1 0–0 1–2 1–3 0–0 0–3 0–4 0–1 3–1 1–2 0–0 0–0 1–3 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–1 0–3 0–3 0–4 0–3 1–2 0–1 0–3 0–0
Washington1–2 1–3 1–2 2–1 2–1 0–0 1–0 1–2 0–1 0–0 0–3 0–0 0–0 0–3 1–2 0–0 1–2 1–2 1–2 2–1 0–0 0–1 0–1 0–0 1–0 2–2 0–1 0–0

Game log

Player statistics

Regular season

|-|Stephon Marbury|31|31|39.8|.439|.367|.832|2.6|8.7|1.0|0.1|23.4|-|Keith Van Horn|42|42|37.5|.428|.302|.859|8.5|1.5|1.0|1.3|21.8|-|Sam Cassell|4|3|25.0|.429|.143|.935|1.5|4.8|0.8|0.0|18.0|-|Kerry Kittles|46|40|34.1|.370|.316|.772|4.2|2.5|1.7|0.6|12.9|-|Kendall Gill|50|47|32.1|.398|.118|.683|4.9|2.5|2.7|0.5|11.8|-|Jayson Williams|30|30|34.0|.445|.000|.565|12.0|1.1|0.8|2.0|8.1|-|Doug Overton|8|1|21.8|.439|.500|.857|2.1|2.0|0.4|0.1|8.0|-|Eric Murdock|15|8|26.7|.395|.364|.808|2.3|4.4|1.5|0.1|7.9|-|Jamie Feick|26|16|32.7|.504||.717|11.0|0.9|1.0|0.7|6.8|-|Scott Burrell|32|10|22.1|.361|.389|.810|3.7|1.4|1.3|0.3|6.6|-|Chris Carr|28|2|13.0|.374|.379|.694|2.1|0.6|0.3|0.0|6.6|-|Mark Hendrickson|22|6|18.1|.443|.000|.840|3.1|0.6|0.5|0.0|5.5|-|Lucious Harris|36|5|16.7|.403|.220|.750|1.9|0.9|0.5|0.2|5.4|-|Chris Gatling|18|2|15.6|.371|.000|.500|3.6|0.7|0.4|0.2|4.7|-|Damon Jones|11|0|11.9|.318|.345|.846|1.2|1.2|0.6|0.0|4.5|-|Earl Boykins|5|0|10.2|.476|.200||0.8|1.2|0.2|0.0|4.2|-|David Vaughn|10|0|10.3|.542||.800|3.4|0.1|0.2|0.8|3.4|-|Brian Evans|11|0|11.0|.324|.364|1.000|1.5|1.3|0.3|0.3|2.7|-|Elliot Perry|30|0|8.1|.349|.391|.750|0.9|1.2|0.5|0.0|2.6|-|Jim McIlvaine|22|1|12.2|.431||.667|2.5|0.1|0.4|1.5|2.2|-|Rony Seikaly|9|0|9.8|.200||.389|2.3|0.2|0.4|0.7|1.7|-|William Cunningham|15|6|10.7|.167||.000|1.9|0.1|0.1|0.7|0.4|-|Gheorghe Muresan|1|0|1.0|.000|||0.0|0.0|0.0|0.0|0.0|}

Player Statistics Citation:

See also

Notes and References

  1. https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NJN/1999.html 1998–99 New Jersey Nets
  2. News: Wise . Mike . BASKETBALL; It's Their Ball, and N.B.A. Owners Call for Lockout . The New York Times . June 30, 1998 . December 15, 2022.
  3. News: Heisler . Mark . NBA Lockout . Los Angeles Times . June 30, 1998 . December 15, 2022.
  4. News: CBS News.com Staff . NBA Lockout Begins . CBS News . June 30, 1998 . December 15, 2022.
  5. News: Bembry . Jerry . Billion-Dollar Question: NBA Facing Long Timeout? Rising Salaries Spur Basketball Owners to Lock Out Players . The Baltimore Sun . June 30, 1998 . May 17, 2023.
  6. News: Steele . David . NBA Lockout Now a Certainty . SFGate . June 30, 1998 . December 15, 2022.
  7. News: CBS News.com Staff . NBA Cancels All-Star Game . CBS News . December 8, 1998 . December 15, 2022.
  8. News: Wise . Mike . PRO BASKETBALL; It's Official: N.B.A. Cancels Its All-Star Game . The New York Times . December 9, 1998 . December 15, 2022.
  9. News: Heisler . Mark . NBA Dunks All-Star Game . Los Angeles Times . December 9, 1998 . May 17, 2023.
  10. News: Asher . Mark . NBA Cancels All-Star Game . The Washington Post . December 9, 1998 . December 15, 2022.
  11. News: Steele . David . NBA Drops All-Stars -- What's Left?; February Game in Philly Latest Casualty of Lockout . SFGate . December 9, 1998 . December 15, 2022.
  12. News: CBS News.com Staff . NBA: Let The Games Begin! . CBS News . January 6, 1999 . December 15, 2022.
  13. News: Wise . Mike . With Little Time on Clock, NBA and Players Settle . The New York Times . January 7, 1999 . May 17, 2023.
  14. News: Heisler . Mark . NBA, Players Union Agree to End Lockout . Los Angeles Times . January 7, 1999 . December 15, 2022.
  15. News: Justice . Richard . Asher . Mark . NBA Labor Dispute Ends After 6 Months . The Washington Post . January 7, 1999 . December 15, 2022.
  16. News: Bembry . Jerry . Just Beating Buzzer, NBA Unlocks Season; With Only Day Left to Make Deal, Owners, Players Union Agree . The Baltimore Sun . January 7, 1999 . December 15, 2022.
  17. News: Popper . Steve . PRO BASKETBALL; Nets Bring in Murdock as Douglas Departs . The New York Times . January 21, 1999 . November 16, 2022.
  18. News: Popper . Steve . N.B.A.: ROUNDUP -- NETS ; Burrell Agrees to a Deal . The New York Times . February 3, 1999 . November 16, 2022.
  19. News: Broussard . Chris . BASKETBALL; Nets Obtain McIlvaine to Shore Up Defense . The New York Times . January 19, 1999 . April 6, 2023.
  20. News: Wise . Mike . PRO BASKETBALL; A Scrum for the Title . The New York Times . February 4, 1999 . June 28, 2022.
  21. News: CBS News.com Staff . Nets Fire Calipari . CBS News . March 15, 1999 . April 6, 2023.
  22. News: Nets Dismiss Calipari with a 3-17 Record . The New York Times . March 16, 1999 . January 5, 2022.
  23. News: Associated Press . Nets Fire Calipari After Dismal Start . Los Angeles Times . March 16, 1999 . May 1, 2023.
  24. News: Popper . Steve . PRO BASKETBALL; Cassell May Be Tonic Aching Nets Need . The New York Times . February 13, 1999 . October 3, 2022.
  25. News: Bucks Activate Sam Cassell . Associated Press . May 1, 1999 . October 3, 2022.
  26. News: Kerber . Fred . Cassell Feels Net Pain: Says His Injury Doomed Calipari . New York Post . May 6, 1999 . January 9, 2023.
  27. News: Broussard . Chris . Marbury, a Schoolyard Hero, Returns to Don a Nets Jersey . The New York Times . March 12, 1999 . May 25, 2022.
  28. News: Marbury Traded to Nets; Timberwolves Get Brandon . Los Angeles Times . March 12, 1999 . July 1, 2022.
  29. News: Smith . Sam . Nets, 76ers Appear to Benefit from Heavy Trading . Chicago Tribune . March 12, 1999 . June 24, 2023.
  30. News: New Jersey Gets Marbury in 3-Team Trade . Tampa Bay Times . March 12, 1999 . November 17, 2022.
  31. News: Broussard . Chris . Nets Win a Big One, But Williams Is Lost . The New York Times . April 2, 1999 . October 14, 2021.
  32. News: Kerber . Fred . Awful Break for Jayson – Williams Fractures Leg, Done for Season . New York Post . April 2, 1999 . January 30, 2023.
  33. News: Broussard . Chris . PRO BASKETBALL; Bad Knee Puts Williams of Nets Out till Jan. 1 . The New York Times . September 15, 1999 . October 10, 2022.
  34. News: Broussard . Chris . PRO BASKETBALL; Center-Poor Nets Will Consider Signing an Ailing 7-7 Muresan . The New York Times . April 7, 1999 . November 14, 2022.
  35. Web site: 1998–99 New Jersey Nets Schedule and Results. Basketball-Reference. July 15, 2021.
  36. Web site: 1998–99 New Jersey Nets Roster and Stats. Basketball-Reference. July 15, 2021.
  37. News: Nets and Clippers Talk Trade . The New York Times . September 16, 1999 . September 13, 2022.
  38. News: Associated Press . Nets Trade Murdock to Clips . CBS News . September 23, 1999 . July 5, 2023.
  39. News: White . Lonnie . Another Pointed Day for Clippers: Pro Basketball: They Get Murdock in Trade with Nets, But Hear from Falk That Taylor Will Leave Team After the Season . Los Angeles Times . September 24, 1999 . April 6, 2023.
  40. News: Popper . Steve . PRO BASKETBALL; Nets Sign Feick and Waive Seikaly . The New York Times . August 4, 1999 . November 14, 2022.
  41. News: New Jersey Nets Uniform . Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net  . August 13, 2021.