Nothin' But Nets
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Brooklyn Nets: 10 best Nets from 3rd NBA decade (1996-2006)

By Phil Watson

SAN ANTONIO - JUNE 6: Jason Kidd #5 and Richard Jefferson #24 of the New Jersey Nets walk to the bench in Game two of the 2003 NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs at SBC Center on June 6, 2003 in San Antonio, Texas. The Nets won 87-85. 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. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO - JUNE 6: Jason Kidd #5 and Richard Jefferson #24 of the New Jersey Nets walk to the bench in Game two of the 2003 NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs at SBC Center on June 6, 2003 in San Antonio, Texas. The Nets won 87-85. 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. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – JAN 26: Stephon Marbury #33 of the New Jersey Nets shoots the ball against Brian Shaw #20 of the Los Angeles Lakers on January 26, 2001 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2001 NBAE (Photo by Robert Mora/NBAE via Getty Images) /

147. . PG. Acquired from Minnesota in 3-team trade, March 11, 1999. Stephon Marbury. 5. player

The trade that brought Coney Island’s Finest to the New Jersey Nets in March 1999 was a massive one, particularly for an in-season deal, involving three teams, nine players and three high-powered point guards that had been or would be All-Stars.

The Nets picked up Stephon Marbury, Chris Carr and Bill Curley from the Minnesota Timberwolves and Elliot Perry from the Milwaukee Bucks and sent out Sam Cassell and Chris Gatling to the Bucks and Brian Evans and a 1999 first-round pick to Minnesota.

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Former All-Star Terrell Brandon went from the Timberwolves to Milwaukee in the deal, with Paul Grant going the other way.

Marbury caught fire the rest of the way, averaging 23.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, 8.7 assisis and 1.0 steals in 39.8 minutes a game over the final 31 games of the season, shooting .439/.367/.832.

It wasn’t a fluke, as Marbury averaged 20-plus points per game in each of the next two seasons, earning an All-NBA bid in 1999-2000 and his first All-Star Game appearance in 2001.

Marbury’s run in Jersey ended in July 2001 when he was traded with Johnny Newman and Soumalia Samake to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Jason Kidd and Chris Dudley.

He finished the strike-shortened 1999 season eighth in the NBA in scoring overall and was 10th in the league in 2000-01, while placing third, seventh and ninth in assists in his three seasons with the Nets, who did not reach the playoffs while Marbury was their floor leader.

In parts of three seasons with New Jersey, Marbury averaged 23.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, 7.1 assists and 1.3 steals in 38.8 minutes per game on a slash line of ..437/.322/.808.

He was the fourth overall pick out of Georgia Tech by the Timberwolves in the 1996 NBA Draft.

An All-Star in Phoenix in 2003, Marbury was traded to the New York Knicks in January 2004 and after being waived by the Knicks in February 2009, finished the season with the Boston Celtics.

Marbury, now 41, moved on to China and played eight years in the Chinese Basketball Association, including last season with the Beijing Fly Dragons, concluding a run in Asia that included six All-Star appearances, a Foreign MVP award in 2012-13 and a Finals MVP nod in 2015.

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