1993–94 New Jersey Nets season

The 1993–94 New Jersey Nets season was the Nets' 27th season in the National Basketball Association, and 18th season in East Rutherford, New Jersey.^[1] During the off-season, the Nets signed free agents Kevin Edwards,^[2][3] Armen Gilliam,^[4][5] and undrafted rookie guard David Wesley, and acquired Benoit Benjamin from the Los Angeles Lakers.^[6][7][8] After the tragic death of star guard Dražen Petrović, who died in a car accident during the off-season on June 7, 1993; Derrick Coleman and Kenny Anderson would both step it up, having All-Star seasons being selected for the 1994 NBA All-Star Game.^{[9][10][11][12][13]} The Nets got off to a rough start losing 10 of their first 14 games, as Chris Morris only played just 50 games due to knee and thumb injuries.^[14][15] In December, the team traded Rumeal Robinson to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Johnny Newman.^[16][17][18] However, after holding a 22–24 at the All-Star break,^[19] the Nets would win 8 of their final 11 games finishing third in the Atlantic Division with a 45–37 record.^[20]

1993–94 New Jersey Nets season
Head coach	Chuck Daly
General manager	Willis Reed
Arena	Brendan Byrne Arena
Results
Record	45–37 (.549)
Place	Division: 3rd (Atlantic) Conference: 7th (Eastern)
Playoff finish	First round (lost to Knicks 1–3)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	WWOR-TV SportsChannel New York (Spencer Ross, Bill Raftery)
Radio	WBBR/WPAT/WEVD (Howard David, Mike O'Koren)
< 1992–93 1994–95 >

Coleman averaged 20.2 points, 11.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team, while Anderson averaged 18.8 points, 9.6 assists and 1.9 steals per game. In addition, Edwards provided the team with 14.0 points and 1.5 steals per game, while Gilliam contributed 11.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game off the bench, and Morris provided with 10.9 points per game.^[21]

However, in the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Nets would lose in four games to the New York Knicks.^{[22][23][24][25]} The Knicks would reach the NBA Finals, but would lose in seven games to the Houston Rockets.^{[26][27][28][29][30]}

Following the season, a frustrated Chuck Daly stepped down as head coach,^[31][32][33] while Newman signed as a free agent with the Milwaukee Bucks,^[34][35] and Wesley signed with the Boston Celtics.

Draft picks

Main article: 1993 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	16	Rex Walters	SG	United States	Kansas
2	36	John Best	PF	United States	Tennessee Tech

Roster

1993–94 New Jersey Nets roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From G 7 Anderson, Kenny 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 168 lb (76 kg) 1970-10-09 Georgia Tech C 00 Benjamin, Benoit 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1964-11-22 Creighton F 42 Brown, P. J. 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1969-10-14 Louisiana Tech F 44 Coleman, Derrick 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1967-06-21 Syracuse G 21 Edwards, Kevin 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1965-10-30 DePaul F 43 Gilliam, Armen 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1964-05-28 UNLV F 4 Mahorn, Rick 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1958-09-21 Hampton F 34 Morris, Chris 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1966-01-20 Auburn G 20 Newman, Johnny 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1963-11-28 Richmond C 33 Schintzius, Dwayne 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 260 lb (118 kg) 1968-10-14 Florida G 2 Walters, Rex 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1970-03-12 Kansas G 1 Wesley, David 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1970-11-14 Baylor F 55 Williams, Jayson 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1968-02-22 St. John's

Head coach Chuck Daly Assistant coach(es) Rick Carlisle Paul Silas Brendan Suhr Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster

Regular season

Season standings

Atlantic Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-New York Knicks	57	25	.695	—	32–9	25–16	18–10
x-Orlando Magic	50	32	.610	7	31–10	19–22	20–8
x-New Jersey Nets	45	37	.549	12	29–12	16–25	17–11
x-Miami Heat	42	40	.512	15	22–19	20–21	16–12
Boston Celtics	32	50	.390	25	18–23	14–27	12–16
Philadelphia 76ers	25	57	.305	32	15–26	10–31	7–21
Washington Bullets	24	58	.293	33	17–24	7–34	8–20

#	Eastern Conference v t e
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	c-Atlanta Hawks	57	25	.695	–
2	y-New York Knicks	57	25	.695	–
3	x-Chicago Bulls	55	27	.671	2
4	x-Orlando Magic	50	32	.610	7
5	x-Indiana Pacers	47	35	.573	10
6	x-Cleveland Cavaliers	47	35	.573	10
7	x-New Jersey Nets	45	37	.549	12
8	x-Miami Heat	42	40	.512	15
9	Charlotte Hornets	41	41	.500	16
10	Boston Celtics	32	50	.390	25
11	Philadelphia 76ers	25	57	.305	32
12	Washington Bullets	24	58	.293	33
13t	Milwaukee Bucks	20	62	.244	37
13t	Detroit Pistons	20	62	.244	37

z – clinched division title

y – clinched division title

x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1993-94 NBA Records
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	UTA	WAS
Atlanta	–	4–0	4–1	2–3	3–1	2–0	1–1	4–0	0–2	1–1	3–2	1–1	1–1	3–1	5–0	2–0	1–3	2–2	3–1	4–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–0
Boston	0–4	–	0–4	2–2	1–3	2–0	1–1	3–1	1–1	1–1	0–4	1–1	1–1	2–3	3–1	1–1	1–4	0–4	2–2	4–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	3–2
Charlotte	1–4	4–0	–	1–4	1–4	1–1	1–1	4–0	0–2	1–1	2–2	1–1	2–0	1–3	3–2	2–0	2–2	3–1	2–2	3–1	2–0	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	2–2
Chicago	3–2	2–2	4–1	–	1–3	2–0	1–1	5–0	2–0	1–1	4–1	2–0	1–1	2–2	4–0	2–0	3–1	1–3	2–2	3–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	4–0
Cleveland	1–3	3–1	4–1	3–1	–	2–0	1–1	3–2	2–0	0–2	2–3	2–0	1–1	1–3	3–2	2–0	2–2	0–4	2–2	4–0	0–2	2–0	2–0	0–2	1–1	1–1	3–1
Dallas	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	–	1–4	1–1	0–4	1–4	0–2	0–4	0–4	0–2	0–2	5–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–4	1–3	2–2	0–5	0–4	0–5	1–1
Denver	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–1	–	2–0	1–3	3–2	1–1	3–1	3–1	1–1	2–0	4–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–3	1–3	2–2	2–4	2–2	1–4	1–1
Detroit	0–4	1–3	0–4	0–5	2–3	1–1	0–2	–	0–2	0–2	1–4	1–1	0–2	2–2	1–4	2–0	1–3	0–4	1–3	1–3	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	2–2
Golden State	2–0	1–1	2–0	0–2	0–2	4–0	3–1	2–0	–	0–4	1–1	4–1	5–0	2–0	2–0	2–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–3	3–2	4–1	2–2	1–4	3–1	2–0
Houston	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	4–1	2–3	2–0	4–0	–	1–1	4–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	4–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–2	4–0	4–0	2–3	2–2	3–3	1–1
Indiana	2–3	4–0	2–2	1–4	3–2	2–0	1–1	4–1	1–1	1–1	–	2–0	0–2	3–1	3–1	2–0	3–1	0–4	2–2	2–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	1–1	1–1	3–1
L.A. Clippers	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	4–0	1–3	1–1	1–4	0–4	0–2	–	2–3	1–1	1–1	1–3	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–5	2–3	3–2	1–3	1–4	1–3	1–1
L.A. Lakers	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	4–0	1–3	2–0	0–5	1–3	2–0	3–2	–	1–1	2–0	3–1	0–2	0–2	2–0	1–1	3–2	0–5	1–4	0–4	0–5	2–2	1–1
Miami	1–3	3–2	3–1	2–2	3–1	2–0	1–1	2–2	0–2	0–2	1–3	1–1	1–1	–	4–0	2–0	2–3	2–2	2–3	4–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	3–1
Milwaukee	0–5	1–3	2–3	0–4	2–3	2–0	0–2	4–1	0–2	1–1	1–3	1–1	0–2	0–4	–	0–2	1–3	0–4	1–3	1–3	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–3
Minnesota	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–5	1–4	0–2	2–2	1–4	0–2	3–1	1–3	0–2	2–0	–	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	0–4	0–4	2–2	1–4	0–4	1–4	0–2
New Jersey	3–1	4–1	2–2	1–3	2–2	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	0–2	1–3	1–1	2–0	3–2	3–1	1–1	–	4–1	0–5	3–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–1
New York	2–2	4–0	1–3	3–1	4–0	2–0	1–1	4–0	1–1	0–2	4–0	2–0	2–0	2–2	4–0	2–0	1–4	–	3–2	3–2	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	0–2	5–0
Orlando	1–3	2–2	2–2	2–2	2–2	2–0	1–1	3–1	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–1	0–2	3–2	3–1	1–1	5–0	2–3	–	4–0	1–1	2–0	2–0	0–2	1–1	2–0	4–1
Philadelphia	0–4	1–4	1–3	1–3	0–4	2–0	2–0	3–1	1–1	0–2	2–2	1–1	1–1	1–4	3–1	0–2	1–3	2–3	0–4	–	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	2–3
Phoenix	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	4–0	3–1	1–1	3–2	2–2	1–1	5–0	2–3	2–0	2–0	4–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	–	3–2	4–1	3–1	2–3	2–2	2–0
Portland	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	0–2	3–1	3–1	2–0	2–3	0–4	1–1	3–2	5–0	2–0	1–1	4–0	2–0	0–2	0–2	2–0	2–3	–	4–1	1–3	1–4	1–3	2–0
Sacramento	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	2–2	2–2	1–1	1–4	0–4	0–2	2–3	4–1	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–0	1–4	1–4	–	1–3	0–5	1–3	2–0
San Antonio	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	5–0	4–2	1–1	2–2	3–2	2–0	3–1	4–0	2–0	2–0	4–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–3	3–1	3–1	–	0–4	0–5	2–0
Seattle	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	4–0	2–2	1–1	4–1	2–2	1–1	4–1	5–0	1–1	2–0	4–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	3–2	4–1	5–0	4–0	–	3–1	2–0
Utah	1–1	2–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	5–0	4–1	2–0	1–3	3–3	1–1	3–1	2–2	1–1	2–0	4–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	1–1	2–2	3–1	3–1	5–0	1–3	–	2–0
Washington	0–4	2–3	2–2	0–4	1–3	1–1	1–1	2–2	0–2	1–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–3	3–1	2–0	1–3	0–5	1–4	3–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	—

Game log

Regular season

1993–94 game log Total: 45–37 (Home: 29–12; Road: 16–25)
November: 4–10 (home: 2–4; road: 2–6) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 November 5 8:30 p.m. EST @ Houston L 88–110 Morris (20) Coleman (13) Anderson (7) The Summit 11,128 0–1 7 November 16 7:30 p.m. EST Houston L 84–90 Anderson (24) Anderson (13) Anderson (12) Brendan Byrne Arena 9,110 3–4
December: 7–6 (home: 6–2; road: 1–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record
January: 8–6 (home: 4–2; road: 4–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record
February: 9–4 (home: 5–2; road: 4–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record All-Star Break
March: 9–6 (home: 7–0; road: 2–6) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record
April: 8–5 (home: 5–2; road: 3–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record
1993–94 schedule

Playoffs

1994 playoff game log
First round: 1–3 (home: 1–1; road: 0–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 April 29 @ New York L 80–91 Derrick Coleman (27) Derrick Coleman (10) Kenny Anderson (6) Madison Square Garden 19,763 0–1 2 May 1 @ New York L 81–90 Kenny Anderson (21) Derrick Coleman (21) four players tied (3) Madison Square Garden 19,763 0–2 3 May 4 New York W 93–92 (OT) Derrick Coleman (25) Derrick Coleman (17) Kenny Anderson (11) Brendan Byrne Arena 20,049 1–2 4 May 6 New York L 102–92 Derrick Coleman (31) Derrick Coleman (9) Kenny Anderson (7) Brendan Byrne Arena 20,049 1–3
1994 schedule

Player statistics

Legend

GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field-goal percentage	3P%	3-point field-goal percentage	FT%	Free-throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game

Season

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Derrick Coleman	77	77	36.1	.447	.314	.774	11.3	3.4	0.9	1.8	20.2
Kenny Anderson	82	82	38.2	.417	.303	.818	3.9	9.6	1.9	0.2	18.8
Kevin Edwards	82	82	33.3	.458	.354	.770	3.4	2.8	1.5	0.4	14.0
Armen Gilliam	82	5	24.0	.510	.000	.759	6.1	0.8	0.5	0.7	11.8
Chris Morris	50	27	27.0	.447	.361	.720	4.6	1.7	1.1	1.0	10.9
Johnny Newman	63	0	20.1	.453	.270	.807	1.9	0.7	0.8	0.3	9.5
Benoit Benjamin	77	74	23.6	.480		.710	6.5	0.6	0.5	1.2	9.3
Rumeal Robinson	17	0	17.7	.353	.467	.500	1.4	2.6	0.9	0.2	5.9
P.J. Brown	79	54	24.7	.415	.167	.757	6.2	1.2	0.9	1.2	5.7
Jayson Williams	70	0	12.5	.427		.605	3.8	0.4	0.2	0.5	4.6
Ron Anderson	11	2	16.0	.349	.333	.833	2.4	0.5	0.5	0.2	4.0
Rex Walters	48	0	8.0	.522	.500	.824	0.8	1.5	0.3	0.1	3.4
David Wesley	60	0	9.0	.368	.234	.830	0.7	2.1	0.6	0.1	3.1
Dwayne Schintzius	30	7	10.6	.345		.588	3.0	0.4	0.2	0.6	2.3
Rick Mahorn	28	0	8.1	.489	.000	.650	1.9	0.2	0.1	0.2	2.1
Dave Jamerson	4	0	2.5	.000		.500	0.8	0.3	0.0	0.0	0.3

Playoffs

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Derrick Coleman	4	4	43.3	.397	.556	.780	14.3	2.5	0.5	1.3	24.5
Kenny Anderson	4	4	45.3	.352	.300	.667	3.0	6.8	2.3	0.0	15.8
Kevin Edwards	4	4	37.0	.360	.000	.929	4.0	2.3	1.3	0.3	12.3
Armen Gilliam	4	0	28.0	.441	.000	.750	6.3	0.3	0.5	1.8	10.5
Chris Morris	4	3	24.5	.279	.150	1.000	5.5	1.8	1.3	1.3	9.3
Benoit Benjamin	4	4	27.0	.412		.875	5.3	0.3	0.5	2.0	5.3
P.J. Brown	4	1	14.0	.222		1.000	2.0	0.8	0.0	0.5	3.0
Johnny Newman	4	0	13.5	.231	.250	.714	1.3	0.5	0.5	0.5	3.0
David Wesley	3	0	6.0	.429	.250	1.000	0.0	1.0	0.7	0.0	3.0
Rex Walters	1	0	1.0	1.000			0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	2.0
Jayson Williams	2	0	8.5	.000		.500	1.5	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.5
Rick Mahorn	3	0	6.3	.000			1.3	0.0	0.0	0.3	0.0

Player Statistics Citation:^[21]

Awards and records

• Derrick Coleman, All-NBA Third Team

Transactions

References

1. 1993–94 New Jersey Nets
2. Freeman, Mike (February 20, 1993). "PRO BASKETBALL; Nets Eye Edwards of the Heat". The New York Times. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
3. Harvin, Al (July 9, 1993). "PRO BASKETBALL; Nets Get Edwards for Petrovic's Spot". The New York Times. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
4. Thomas Jr., Robert McG. (August 12, 1993). "PRO BASKETBALL; Gilliam to Join the Nets, Filling the Dudley Gap". The New York Times. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
5. Wang, Gene (November 4, 1993). "1993-94 NBA Previews". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
6. "Lakers Trade Benjamin to Nets". United Press International. June 21, 1993. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
7. Freeman, Mike (June 22, 1993). "PRO BASKETBALL; Nets Get Benjamin in Swap for Bowie". The New York Times. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
8. Elliott, Helene (June 22, 1993). "Lakers Trade Benjamin to True Believer: Basketball: He Is Dealt to Nets for Bowie and Draft Choice and Will Be Reunited with College Coach, Willis Reed". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
9. Smith, Sam (January 18, 1994). "Armstrong a Surprising All-Star Starter as Fans Ignore Big Names". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
10. "All-Stars Are Short on Magic". Orlando Sentinel. February 2, 1994. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
11. Taylor, Phil (February 14, 1994). "The NBA". Sports Illustrated Vault. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
12. "1994 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com. NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
13. "1994 NBA All-Star Game: East 127, West 118". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
14. Harvin, Al (November 9, 1993). "PRO BASKETBALL; Injured Knee Puts Morris Out 1 to 2 Weeks". The New York Times. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
15. Harvin, Al (March 9, 1994). "BASKETBALL; Nets Put Morris on Injured List". The New York Times. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
16. "Hornets Deal Newman to Nets for Robinson". United Press International. December 10, 1993. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
17. "BASKETBALL; Robinson Dealt for Newman". The New York Times. December 11, 1993. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
18. "Hornets Trade Newman to Nets for Robinson". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. December 11, 1993. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
19. "NBA Games Played on February 10, 1994". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
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21. "1993–94 New Jersey Nets Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
22. Brown, Clifton (May 7, 1994). "BASKETBALL; Knicks Cancel Nets' Weekend Trip to City". The New York Times. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
23. "NBA PLAYOFFS: Tune-up Over, Knicks Ready for Bulls". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 7, 1994. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
24. Arace, Michael (May 7, 1994). "Knicks Put an End to Series". Hartford Courant. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
25. "1994 NBA Eastern Conference First Round: Nets vs. Knicks". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
26. Brown, Clifton (June 23, 1994). "N.B.A. FINALS; Rockets Hit the Heights as Champions". The New York Times. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
27. Howard-Cooper, Scott (June 23, 1994). "Rockets Follow Their Leader to First NBA Championship: Pro Basketball: Olajuwon Shows the Way, Leading Houston to 90-84 Victory over Knicks in Game 7". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
28. Cotton, Anthony (June 23, 1994). "Rockets Silence Knicks in Game 7, 90-84". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
29. Schabner, Dean (June 23, 1994). "Rockets 90, Knicks 84". United Press International. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
30. "1994 NBA Finals: Knicks vs. Rockets". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
31. Araton, Harvey (May 27, 1994). "ON PRO BASKETBALL; Daly Quit to Avoid Really Turning Gray". The New York Times. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
32. "Daly Quits as Net Coach to Become TV Analyst". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. May 27, 1994. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
33. Howard, Johnette (May 29, 1994). "Daly Departs as a Coach in the Classic Style". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
34. Wise, Mike (November 14, 1994). "PRO BASKETBALL; Reed Holds and Waits for 2 Aces to Pay Off". The New York Times. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
35. "Eastern Conference". The Washington Post. November 4, 1994. Retrieved November 10, 2022.

See also

• 1993–94 NBA season