“The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not ask is a fool for life.” — Confucius

“The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not ask is a fool for life.” — Confucius

Tanzania

#Tanzania

Tanzania

#Tanzania

2002 New Jersey Nets

Starters:
G - Jason Kidd
G - Kerry Kittles
F - Keith Van Horn
F - Kenyon Martin
C - Todd MacCulloch

Reserves:
G - Anthony Johnson
G - Brandon Armstrong
G - Lucious Harris
F - Richard Jefferson
F - Donny Marshall
F - Brian Scalabrine
F - Aaron Williams
F - Jamie Feick
C - Jason Collins

Head Coach - Byron Scott

Record: 52-30 (No. 1 seed in East)

NBA 2002 Playoffs:
• Won NBA East 1st Round (3-2) vs #8 Indiana Pacers
• Won NBA East Semis (4-1) vs #4 Charlotte Hornets
• Won NBA East Finals (4-2) vs #3 Boston Celtics
• Lost NBA Finals (0-4) vs #3 Los Angeles Lakers

This season is notable for the Nets acquiring All-Star point guard Jason Kidd from the Phoenix Suns during the off-season. The Nets selected Eddie Griffin out of Seton Hall University with the seventh overall pick in the 2001 NBA draft, but soon traded him to the Houston Rockets in exchange for top draft pick Richard Jefferson and rookie center Jason Collins, and signed free agent Todd MacCulloch.

Under the guidance of Kidd and Martin, the young Nets team prospered through the playoffs, and ended up advancing all the way to the Eastern Conference title and the franchise's first-ever appearance in the NBA Finals. However, New Jersey's season would end without an improbable NBA crown, as the Nets were swept in four games by the Los Angeles Lakers.

Following the season, Keith Van Horn and Todd MacCulloch were both traded to the Philadelphia 76ers for Dikembe Mutombo.

'02 awards
Jason Kidd
- All-NBA First Team
- NBA All-Defensive First Team
- NBA All-Star

Richard Jefferson
- NBA All-Rookie Second Team

Rod Thorn
- NBA Executive of the Year

Tim Duncan

6' 11" | Center | Wake Forest

Career college stats:
16.5 PPG, 12.3 RPG, 2.3 APG, 0.5 SPG, 3.8 BPG,
58 FG%, 32 3P%, 69 FT%

Awards:
- 1993-94 ACC All-Freshman

- 1994-95 All-ACC - 1st Team
- 1994-95 NABC Defensive Player of the Year
- 1995 All-ACC Tournament - 1st Team
- 1995 NCAA Tournament All-Region

- 1995-96 ACC Player of the Year
- 1995-96 All-ACC - 1st Team
- 1995-96 AP Preseason All-American
- 1995-96 Consensus All-America - 1st Team
- 1995-96 NABC Defensive Player of the Year
- 1996 ACC Tournament MVP
- 1996 All-ACC Tournament - 1st Team
- 1996 NCAA Tournament All-Region

- 1996-97 ACC Player of the Year
- 1996-97 All-ACC - 1st Team
- 1996-97 AP Player of the Year
- 1996-97 AP Preseason All-American
- 1996-97 Consensus All-America - 1st Team
- 1996-97 NABC Defensive Player of the Year
- 1996-97 NABC Division I Player of the Year
- 1996-97 Naismith Award
- 1996-97 Rupp Trophy
- 1996-97 Sporting News Player of the Year
- 1996-97 USBWA Player of the Year
- 1996-97 Wooden Award
- 1997 All-ACC Tournament - 1st Team

• NCAA rebounding leader (1997)
• No.21 retired by Wake Forest Demon Deacons
• College Basketball Hall of Fame
- inducted in 2017

Representing the United States
Goodwill Games
• Bronze medal (1994)

Summer Universiade
• Gold medal (1995)

Draft: San Antonio Spurs, 1st round (1st pick, 1st overall), 1997 NBA draft

Memory Lane

#MemoryLane