1993–94 New Jersey Nets season

Off-season

After the tragic death of Croatian star guard Dražen Petrović in a car accident at the age of 28 on June 7, 1993, the Nets signed free agents Kevin Edwards,^[2][3][4] Armen Gilliam,^[5][6][7] and undrafted rookie point guard David Wesley, and acquired Benoit Benjamin from the Los Angeles Lakers during the off-season.^[8][9][10]

Regular season

With the addition of Edwards, Gilliam and Benjamin, the Nets struggled losing 10 of their first 14 games of the regular season, as Chris Morris only played just 50 games due to knee and thumb injuries.^[11][12][13] In December, the team traded Rumeal Robinson to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Johnny Newman.^[14][15][16] The Nets played slightly below .500 in winning percentage as the season progressed, and held a 22–24 at the All-Star break.^[17] The Nets won eight of their final eleven games of the season, and finished in third place in the Atlantic Division with a 45–37 record, earning the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference.^[18]

Derrick Coleman averaged 20.2 points, 11.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team, while Kenny Anderson averaged 18.8 points, 9.6 assists and 1.9 steals per game, and Edwards provided the team with 14.0 points and 1.5 steals per game. In addition, Gilliam played a sixth man role off the bench, averaging 11.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, while Morris provided with 10.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, Newman contributed 9.5 points per game in 63 games after the trade, Benjamin averaged 9.4 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game, rookie power forward P.J. Brown contributed 5.7 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, and Jayson Williams provided with 4.6 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.^[19]

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Coleman and Anderson were both selected for the 1994 NBA All-Star Game, as members of the Eastern Conference All-Star team; it was the first and only All-Star appearance for both players.^[20][21][22] Meanwhile, Brown was selected for the inaugural NBA Rookie Game, as a member of the Sensations team.^[23][24] Gilliam finished in fifth place in Sixth Man of the Year voting, while Newman finished tied in sixth place,^[25][26] and head coach Chuck Daly finished tied in fifth place in Coach of the Year voting.^[27][26]

The Nets finished twelfth in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 658,304 at the Brendan Byrne Arena during the regular season.^[19][28]

NBA playoffs

In the Eastern Conference First Round of the 1994 NBA playoffs, the Nets faced off against the 2nd–seeded, and Atlantic Division champion New York Knicks, who were led by the All-Star trio of Patrick Ewing, John Starks and Charles Oakley. The Nets lost the first two games to the Knicks on the road at Madison Square Garden, but managed to win Game 3 at home in overtime, 93–92 at the Brendan Byrne Arena.^[29] However, the Nets lost Game 4 to the Knicks at home, 102–92, thus losing the series in four games; the Nets struggled only shooting .357 in field-goal percentage during the series.^[30][31][32]

The Knicks would advance to the 1994 NBA Finals, but would lose to the Houston Rockets in a full seven-game series.^[33][34][35]

Aftermath

Following the season, Daly resigned as head coach to pursue a broadcasting career,^[36][37][38] while Newman signed as a free agent with the Milwaukee Bucks,^[39][40] and Wesley signed with the Boston Celtics.

Season standings

z – clinched division title

y – clinched division title

x – clinched playoff spot

Regular season

Playoffs

Season

Playoffs

Player statistics citation:^[19]