Nothin' But Nets
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Former Brooklyn Nets in the NBA Finals

By Christian Milcos

Dec 13, 2013; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Brooklyn Nets point guard Shaun Livingston (14) tries to dribble around Detroit Pistons shooting guard Rodney Stuckey (3) during the second quarter at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 13, 2013; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Brooklyn Nets point guard Shaun Livingston (14) tries to dribble around Detroit Pistons shooting guard Rodney Stuckey (3) during the second quarter at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 2, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Kevin Garnett (2) celebrates with forward Paul Pierce (34) and guard Deron Williams (8) against the Toronto Raptors during the first half in game six of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
May 2, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Kevin Garnett (2) celebrates with forward Paul Pierce (34) and guard Deron Williams (8) against the Toronto Raptors during the first half in game six of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /

Deron Williams

After losing out on Carmelo Anthony in February 2011, King became desperate to bring a star to the Nets before the team moved across the river. Lucky for him, then Utah Jazz General Manager, Kevin O’Connor, made Williams available as the trade deadline approached. The Nets would ultimately send Devin Harris, Derrick Favors and two first-round picks in return for the All-Star point guard.

Williams’ fall from grace has been one of the most surprising in NBA history. At the time the Nets acquired the former University of Illinois star, they were getting a three-time, 26-year-old All-Star who was averaging 21.3 points per game and had only missed 24 out of 410 career regular season games over his first five seasons in the NBA.

There was little reason to believe that Williams would not continue to be the conversation for best point guard in the NBA. Nobody believed this more than Dwight Howard, who valiantly attempted to become a Net, only to inexplicably change his mind on a late-night flight.

After making several moves to appease him, and present him with help, it became clear that Williams would never be the player he was in Utah with the Nets. There is perhaps no better clip than this to represent Williams’ time in Brooklyn and New Jersey than this one:

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After Brooklyn bought out Williams in July, 2015, he spent a season and a half in his hometown of Dallas, playing under Rick Carlisle. However, the Mavericks bought out Williams toward the tail end of this seasons, allowing him to sign with a contender.

Williams opted to join his former Team USA teammate in Cleveland. He has proceeded to become the laughing stock of the 2017 Finals, with hundreds of mean spirited Tweets being aimed at the former Net every time he shoots. As has been stated numerous times on social media, through three games in Williams has notched the same amount of points in The Finals as Melo, Chris Paul, Anthony Davis and Paul George have combined.