Brooklyn Nets: 7 Hall of Famers many people forget were Nets

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – JUNE 8: DikembeMutombo#55 of the New Jersey Nets goes for a rebound against the San Antonio Spurs during Game three of the NBA Finals at the Continental Airlines Arena on June 8, 2003 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Spurs won 84-79. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Copyright NBAE 2003 (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Dikembe Mutombo (24 games, 2002-03)

The New Jersey Nets reached their first NBA Finals in 2002, only to see Shaquille O’Neal demolish center Todd MacCulloch in a four-game sweep.

Heading into the following season, the Nets addressed their need for something stronger in the middle by acquiring four-time Defensive Player of the Year Dikembe Mutombo from the Philadelphia 76ers, sending Keith Van Horn and MacCulloch in the other direction.

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But in late November, Mutombo tore a ligament in his right wrist and sat out three months before returning in late March.

Deke played in eight games down the stretch as the Nets secured the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, holding off Philadelphia for the Atlantic Division crown before rolling through the East in the playoffs.

New Jersey lost two games to the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round before rolling to consecutive sweeps of the Boston Celtics and top-seeded Detroit Pistons to return to the Finals.

The San Antonio Spurs were a bit too much for the Nets to handle, winning the title in six games.

In 24 regular-season games, Mutombo averaged 5.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 21.4 minutes per game, shooting .374/—/.727.

He worked exclusively off the bench in the playoffs, averaging just 1.8 points and 2.7 rebounds in 10 games and 11.5 minutes a night, shooting 7-for-15/—/4-for-4.

In October 2003, the Nets bought out the rest of Mutombo’s contract — for roughly $30 million. He signed with the Knicks and was traded to the Houston Rockets, via a trade to the Chicago Bulls, in September 2004.

Mutombo played 18 seasons in all with the Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks, 76ers, Nets, Knights and Rockets, earning eight All-Star nods, three All-NBA berths and six All-Defensive selections.

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