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Brooklyn Nets: the top draft choices at pick #22 of all time

By William Berthold

Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver speaks at the conclusion of the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver speaks at the conclusion of the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /
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Los Angeles Lakers Coach Pat Riley and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 1983 Finals : News Photo
Los Angeles Lakers Coach Pat Riley and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 1983 Finals : News Photo /

3. Norm Nixon

Drafted: June 10, 1977 by the Los Angeles Lakers
 
As an electrifying scorer and dynamic passer, Norm Nixon was largely responsible for the birth of the Los Angeles Lakers “Showtime” Championship run of the 1980s. He teamed with Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabber to form a “Big-Three” before the term even existed.

The trio led the Lakers to NBA titles in 1980 and 1982, Pat Riley’s first of five championships as a head coach.
 
The problem with Nixon, was he played point guard, the same position as the all-time great Johnson, so someone had to go. Despite six successful seasons as a Laker, Nixon was deemed expendable.

His value plummeted when James Worthy entered the picture, proving a “Big Three” incapable of morphing into a “Big Four,” and thus was traded to the Clippers in 1984 for former Nets coach Byron Scott.

Still, Nets fans would take 10 NBA seasons, 12,065 career points, 6,386 career assists at 22 for sure.