Nothin' But Nets
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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
NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 30: Kerry Kittles #30 of the New Jersey Nets drives to the basket while guarded by Allan Houston #20 of the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York on December 30, 1996. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

147. . SG. 1996-97 New Jersey Nets. Kerry Kittles. 8. player

The New Jersey Nets found themselves with the eighth overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft and used it to take two-time All-American guard Kerry Kittles from Villanova.

It was a good choice, as Kittles took over the starting job at the shooting guard spot early in his rookie season and earned a spot on the All-Rookie second team.

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    • The rookie averaged 16.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.0 assiss and 1.9 steals in 36.7 minutes per game, shooting .426/.377/.771 and starting 57 games while playing in all 82.

    Kittles was a fixture at the 2 spot for the next eight years, save for when he missed the 2000-01 season with a knee injury.

    The Nets missed the playoffs in 1996-97, going just 26-56 in their first season under coach John Calipari, but Kittles would help the Nets to the postseason four times in his career, including back-to-back Finals appearances in 2002 and 2003.

    The New Orleans native spent seven seasons with New Jersey before he was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in July 2004.

    His knee shortened his lone year with the Clippers to 11 games and he was out of the NBA after being waived in August 2005.

    Kittles is second in franchise history with 687 3-pointers and is third with 803 steals.

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