Nothin' But Nets
Fansided

Brooklyn Nets: 10 best rookie seasons in franchise history

By Phil Watson

NEW JERSEY - SEPTEMBER 01: Kerry Kittles #30 of the New Jersey Nets poses for a portrait during the 1996 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot on September 1, 1996 in New Jersey. 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 1996 NBAE (Photo by Walter Iooss Jr./NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW JERSEY - SEPTEMBER 01: Kerry Kittles #30 of the New Jersey Nets poses for a portrait during the 1996 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot on September 1, 1996 in New Jersey. 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 1996 NBAE (Photo by Walter Iooss Jr./NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Brooklyn Nets
UNIONDALE, NY – 1974: Brian Taylor #14 of the New York Nets shoots the ball against the Virginia Squires circa 1974 at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. 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 1974 NBAE (Photo by Jim Cummins/NBAE via Getty Images) /

1972-73 New York Nets. Brian Taylor. 9. player. 147. . PG

Brian Taylor earned All-America honors as a junior at Princeton before declaring himself a hardship case (the nomenclature of the day for players declaring early for the draft) and the smooth point guard went in the second round of both the ABA and NBA drafts in 1972.

In the end, Taylor chose the New York Nets and the ABA over the Seattle SuperSonics and the NBA, signing with the Nets in early August 1972.

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Taylor wound up supplanting former All-Star point guard Bill Melchionni as te starter for the Nets, though Melchionni still led the ABA in assists working mostly as a reserve.

Despite missing more than a month with a pair of dislocated fingers, Taylor earned ABA Rookie of the Year honors after averaging 15.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 32.3 minutes per game over 63 games, on .515/.160/.743 shooting.

The Nets had collapsed to a 30-54 record, but grabbed the fourth playoff spot in the Eastern Division, earning a first-round matchup with the 57-27 Carolina Cougars.

Taylor put up 13.6 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 33.2 minutes per game, shooting .483/0-for-1/12-for-15, but Carolina bounced the Nets in five games.

Taylor went on to two All-Star bids in four seasons with New York, helping the team to titles in 1974 and 1976 in the ABA.

In September 1976, Taylor was dealt to the Kansas City Kings as part of the package used to get Tiny Archibald. He played a season with the Kings, one with the Denver Nuggets and parts of four with the San Diego Clippers before retiring after rupturing his Achilles tendon in 1982.

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