1999–2000 New Jersey Nets season

The 1999–2000 NBA season was the Nets' 33rd season in the National Basketball Association, and 24th season in East Rutherford, New Jersey.^[1] During the off-season, the Nets re-acquired Johnny Newman from the Los Angeles Clippers,^[2][3][4] and re-signed free agent Sherman Douglas.^[5][6][7] Without Jayson Williams, who missed the entire season with a knee injury sustained from the previous season,^{[8][9][10][11]} the Nets struggled losing 15 of their first 17 games of the regular season.^[12][13][14]

1999–2000 New Jersey Nets season
Head coach	Don Casey
Owners	Lewis Katz
Arena	Continental Airlines Arena
Results
Record	31–51 (.378)
Place	Division: 6th (Atlantic) Conference: 11th (Eastern)
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television	WLNY Fox Sports Net New York Metro-TV
Radio	WOR
< 1998–99 2000–01 >

Despite the bad start, the team would eventually get hot by winning 13 of their next 18 games, later on holding a 19–30 record at the All-Star break,^[15] and find themselves near the playoff picture with a 31–40 record as of March 30, 2000.^[16] However, a rash of late season injures cost the team to lose their final eleven games,^[17] finishing in sixth place in the Atlantic Division with a 31–51 record.^[18]

Stephon Marbury averaged 22.2 points, 8.4 assists and 1.5 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team, while Keith Van Horn averaged 19.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, and Kendall Gill provided the team with 13.1 points and led them with 1.8 steals per game. In addition, Kerry Kittles contributed 13.0 points and 1.3 steals per game, but only played 62 games due to a knee injury,^[19][20] while off the bench, Newman played a sixth man role, averaging 10.0 points per game, Lucious Harris contributed 6.7 points per game, and Jamie Feick led the team with 9.3 rebounds per game.^[21][22] During this season, Marbury and Gill both reached different milestones, as Marbury dished out his 2,000th career assist, and Gill scored his 10,000th career point.^[22]

Following the season, head coach Don Casey was fired,^[23][24][25] while Scott Burrell and Gheorghe Mureșan were both released to free agency, Elliot Perry signed as a free agent with the Orlando Magic,^[26] and Williams retired after nine seasons in the NBA.^{[27][28][29][30]}

Offseason

NBA draft

Main article: 1999 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
2	34	Evan Eschmeyer	C	United States	Northwestern

Roster

1999–2000 New Jersey Nets roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From F 24 Scott Burrell 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 218 lb (99 kg) 1971-01-12 Connecticut G 11 Sherman Douglas  6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1966-09-15 Syracuse C 00 Evan Eschmeyer  6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 255 lb (116 kg) 1975-05-30 Northwestern F 14 Jamie Feick 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 255 lb (116 kg) 1974-07-03 Michigan State G/F 13 Kendall Gill 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1968-05-25 Illinois G 12 Lucious Harris 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1970-12-18 Long Beach State G 30 Kerry Kittles  6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 179 lb (81 kg) 1974-06-12 Villanova G 33 Stephon Marbury  6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1977-02-20 Georgia Tech C 22 Jim McIlvaine 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1972-07-30 Marquette C 77 Gheorghe Mureșan 7 ft 7 in (2.31 m) 303 lb (137 kg) 1971-02-14 Romania F 20 Johnny Newman 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1963-11-28 Richmond G 1 Elliot Perry 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 150 lb (68 kg) 1969-03-28 Memphis F 44 Keith Van Horn 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1975-10-23 Utah C 55 Jayson Williams  (IN) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1968-02-22 St. John's

Head coach Don Casey Assistant(s) Eddie Jordan Jim Lynam Mike O'Koren Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended (IN) Inactive Injured Roster

Roster notes

• Center Jayson Williams missed the entire season due to a leg injury.

Regular season

The Nets started the season at 2–15, a franchise record low. Despite the poor start, the Nets rallied back to compete for a playoff spot. The Nets were still alive in the playoff race at the beginning of April with three weeks left in the season. After the first week of April, the team was without their leading scorer, Stephon Marbury, who struggled with knee injuries. Other injuries included rookie Evan Eschmeyer (ankle), and starting shooting guard Kerry Kittles (knee).^[31] The Nets were officially eliminated from playoff contention on April 7 after a 103–85 loss to the Miami Heat. The team finished the season by losing their final 11 games of the year.^[22]

Season standings

Atlantic Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Miami Heat	52	30	.634	–	33–8	19–22	18–6
x-New York Knicks	50	32	.610	2	33–8	17–24	14–10
x-Philadelphia 76ers	49	33	.598	3	29–12	20–21	13–11
Orlando Magic	41	41	.500	11	26–15	15–26	12–13
Boston Celtics	35	47	.427	17	26–15	9–32	12–12
New Jersey Nets	31	51	.378	21	22–19	9–32	9–16
Washington Wizards	29	53	.354	23	17–24	12–29	7–17

#	Eastern Conference v t e
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	c-Indiana Pacers	56	26	.683	–
2	y-Miami Heat	52	30	.634	4
3	x-New York Knicks	50	32	.610	6
4	x-Charlotte Hornets	49	33	.598	7
5	x-Philadelphia 76ers	49	33	.598	7
6	x-Toronto Raptors	45	37	.549	11
7	x-Detroit Pistons	42	40	.512	14
8	x-Milwaukee Bucks	42	40	.512	14
9	Orlando Magic	41	41	.500	15
10	Boston Celtics	35	47	.427	21
11	Cleveland Cavaliers	32	50	.390	24
12	New Jersey Nets	31	51	.378	25
13	Washington Wizards	29	53	.354	27
14	Atlanta Hawks	28	54	.341	28
15	Chicago Bulls	17	65	.207	39

Record vs. opponents

1999-2000 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	TOR	UTA	VAN	WAS
Atlanta	–	1–3	1–3	3–1	3–1	0–2	1–1	1–3	0–2	1–1	1–3	1–1	0–2	2–2	0–4	1–1	3–1	2–1	0–3	0–4	0–2	0–2	2–0	0–2	1–1	2–2	0–2	1–1	1–3
Boston	3–1	–	1–3	2–2	2–2	1–1	2–0	0–3	1–1	1–1	1–3	1–1	0–2	1–3	1–2	0–2	3–1	2–2	2–2	1–3	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	3–1
Charlotte	3–1	3–1	–	4–0	3–1	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–0	1–1	2–2	2–0	0–2	2–2	3–1	2–0	2–1	1–3	2–2	3–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	3–1	0–2	2–0	3–0
Chicago	1–3	2–2	0–4	–	1–3	0–2	1–1	1–3	0–2	0–2	1–3	2–0	0–2	2–2	1–3	0–2	2–1	0–3	0–4	0–4	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–4	0–2	0–2	2–2
Cleveland	1–3	2–2	1–3	3–1	–	2–0	2–0	2–2	1–1	1–1	0–4	2–0	0–2	0–3	1–3	0–2	2–2	3–1	2–1	0–4	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–4	0–2	2–0	3–1
Dallas	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	–	3–1	2–0	4–0	1–3	1–1	4–0	1–3	0–2	0–2	2–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	3–1	2–2	1–3	2–2	1–3	1–1	1–3	3–1	1–1
Denver	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–3	–	1–1	2–2	2–2	0–2	3–1	1–3	0–2	2–0	2–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–3	2–2	2–2	1–3	1–3	2–0	2–2	2–2	1–1
Detroit	3–1	3–0	2–2	3–1	2–2	0–2	1–1	–	2–0	1–1	1–3	2–0	0–2	2–2	3–1	0–2	2–1	1–3	2–2	2–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	2–2	0–2	2–0	2–2
Golden State	2–0	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	0–4	2–2	0–2	–	1–3	0–2	1–3	0–4	1–1	1–1	1–3	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–4	0–4	1–3	0–4	0–4	0–2	0–4	3–1	1–1
Houston	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–2	1–1	3–1	–	0–2	4–0	2–2	1–1	0–2	0–4	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	2–2	2–2	1–3	0–4	1–3	0–2	1–3	2–2	1–1
Indiana	3–1	3–1	2–2	3–1	4–0	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–0	2–0	–	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–2	1–1	3–1	2–2	2–1	2–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–0	2–0	2–1
L.A. Clippers	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–4	1–3	0–2	3–1	0–4	1–1	–	0–4	0–2	0–2	1–3	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–4	0–4	1–3	0–4	1–3	0–2	0–4	1–3	1–1
L.A. Lakers	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	3–1	3–1	2–0	4–0	2–2	1–1	4–0	–	2–0	2–0	4–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	4–0	2–2	3–1	1–3	3–1	1–1	3–1	4–0	1–1
Miami	2–2	3–1	2–2	2–2	3–0	2–0	2–0	2–2	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–0	0–2	–	2–2	2–0	2–2	3–1	3–1	3–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–2	1–1	1–1	4–0
Milwaukee	4–0	2–1	1–3	3–1	3–1	2–0	0–2	1–3	1–1	2–0	2–2	2–0	0–2	2–2	–	0–2	1–3	0–4	4–0	0–3	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	3–1
Minnesota	1–1	2–0	0–2	2–0	2–0	2–2	2–2	2–0	3–1	4–0	1–1	3–1	0–4	0–2	2–0	–	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–3	2–2	3–1	3–1	2–2	2–0	3–1	4–0	0–2
New Jersey	1–3	1–3	1–2	1–2	2–2	2–0	1–1	1–2	2–0	1–1	1–3	1–1	0–2	2–2	3–1	1–1	–	1–3	3–2	1–3	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–2	0–2	0–2	1–3
New York	1–2	2–2	3–1	3–0	1–3	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	2–0	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	4–0	1–1	3–1	–	3–1	3–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–3	0–2	2–0	2–2
Orlando	3–0	2–2	2–2	4–0	1–2	1–1	2–0	2–2	1–1	2–0	1–2	2–0	0–2	1–3	0–4	1–1	2–3	1–3	–	2–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–1	2–0	4–0
Philadelphia	4–0	3–1	1–3	4–0	4–0	2–0	0–2	2–2	2–0	1–1	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	3–0	1–1	3–1	1–3	2–2	–	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	2–0	3–0	1–1	2–0	3–1
Phoenix	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–3	3–1	2–0	4–0	2–2	1–1	4–0	0–4	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–0	–	1–3	4–0	2–2	2–2	1–1	0–4	4–0	2–0
Portland	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–2	2–2	1–1	4–0	2–2	0–2	4–0	2–2	1–1	2–0	2–2	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	3–1	–	4–0	3–1	4–0	1–1	3–1	3–1	2–0
Sacramento	0–2	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	3–1	2–2	2–0	3–1	3–1	1–1	3–1	1–3	0–2	1–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	0–4	0–4	–	3–1	2–2	1–1	1–3	3–1	2–0
San Antonio	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–2	3–1	1–1	4–0	4–0	1–1	4–0	3–1	1–1	0–2	1–3	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	1–3	1–3	–	2–2	1–1	2–2	4–0	1–1
Seattle	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	3–1	3–1	0–2	4–0	3–1	1–1	3–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–0	0–2	1–1	0–2	2–2	0–4	2–2	2–2	–	0–2	2–2	4–0	2–0
Toronto	2–2	2–2	1–3	4–0	4–0	1–1	0–2	2–2	2–0	2–0	1–3	2–0	1–1	2–1	2–2	0–2	2–2	3–1	2–2	0–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	–	1–1	1–1	2–2
Utah	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	3–1	2–2	2–0	4–0	3–1	0–2	4–0	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–3	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	4–0	1–3	3–1	2–2	2–2	1–1	–	3–1	2–0
Vancouver	1–1	1–1	0–2	2–0	0–2	1–3	2–2	0–2	1–3	2–2	0–2	3–1	0–4	1–1	1–1	0–4	2–0	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–4	1–3	1–3	0–4	0–4	1–1	1–3	–	1–1
Washington	3–1	1–3	0–3	2–2	1–3	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	1–2	1–1	1–1	0–4	1–3	2–0	3–1	2–2	0–4	1–3	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	2–2	0–2	1–1	—

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

Regular season

New Jersey Nets statistics

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Stephon Marbury	74	74	38.9	.432	.283	.813	3.2	8.4	1.5	0.2	22.2
Keith Van Horn	80	80	34.8	.445	.368	.847	8.5	2.0	0.8	0.8	19.2
Kendall Gill	76	75	31.0	.414	.256	.710	3.7	2.8	1.8	0.5	13.1
Kerry Kittles	62	61	30.6	.437	.400	.795	3.6	2.3	1.3	0.3	13.0
Johnny Newman	82	9	21.5	.446	.379	.838	1.9	0.8	0.6	0.1	10.0
Lucious Harris	77	11	19.6	.428	.330	.798	2.4	1.3	0.8	0.1	6.7
Scott Burrell	74	9	18.1	.394	.353	.780	3.5	1.0	0.9	0.6	6.1
Sherman Douglas	20	2	15.5	.500	.313	.893	1.5	1.7	0.9	0.0	6.0
Jamie Feick	81	17	27.7	.428	1.000	.707	9.3	0.8	0.5	0.5	5.7
Elliot Perry	60	5	13.4	.435	.282	.806	1.0	2.3	0.7	0.0	5.3
Gheorge Muresan	30	2	8.9	.456		.605	2.3	0.3	0.0	0.4	3.5
Evan Eschmeyer	31	5	12.0	.528		.500	3.5	0.7	0.3	0.7	2.9
Jim McIlvaine	66	53	15.9	.416		.518	3.5	0.5	0.4	1.8	2.4
Michael Cage	20	7	12.1	.500		1.000	4.1	0.5	0.4	0.4	1.4
Mark Hendrickson	5	0	4.8	.000		.500	0.4	0.6	0.0	0.0	0.2

Player Statistics Citation:^[21]

Awards and records

• Stephon Marbury, All-NBA Third Team

Transactions