Nothin' But Nets
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Brooklyn Nets: 25 greatest individual games in team history

By Phil Watson

CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 4: Deron Williams #8 of the New Jersey Nets takes a foul shot during the game against the Charlotte Bobcats at Time Warner Cable Arena on March 4, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 2012 NBAE (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 4: Deron Williams #8 of the New Jersey Nets takes a foul shot during the game against the Charlotte Bobcats at Time Warner Cable Arena on March 4, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 2012 NBAE (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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LANDOVER, MD – CIRCA 1974: Clifford Ray #14 of the Chicago Bulls goes up to block the shot of Manny Leaks #24 of the Capital Bullets during an NBA basketball game circa 1974 at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. Ray played for the Bulls from 1971-74. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD – CIRCA 1974: Clifford Ray #14 of the Chicago Bulls goes up to block the shot of Manny Leaks #24 of the Capital Bullets during an NBA basketball game circa 1974 at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. Ray played for the Bulls from 1971-74. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

24. Manny Leaks vs. Oakland Oaks, Jan. 19, 1969

The franchise’s first season as the New York Nets was a dreary one — just a 17-61 record. A total of 24 players cycled their way through the roster as coach Max Zaslofsky tried in vain to find some combination that worked.

One of those 24 players who came through Commack Arena in 1968-69 was Manny Leaks, an undersized rookie center from Niagara that turned down the Detroit Pistons, who had chosen him in the second round of the NBA Draft to sign with the ABA’s Kentucky Colonels.

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But on Dec. 30, 1968, Leaks and forward Randolph Mahaffey were sent to the Nets, with center Dan Anderson and forward Oliver Darden going the other way.

Leaks didn’t hang around long — on Feb. 13, 1969, he was shipped to the Dallas Chaparrals for a future draft pick (welcome to pro basketball, kid).

But in a 116-105 loss to the eventual ABA champion Oakland Oaks at Commack Arena on Jan. 19, 1969, Leaks did his part to help the Nets at least stay competitive.

New York came in at just 12-27 while the Oaks were a ridiculous 34-4 entering what would be the last of a streak of 16 straight wins.

Leaks played 44 minutes for the Nes, battling big men Jim Eakins and Ira Harge of Oakand all night long. He finished with 17 points and a game-high 23 rebounds — 14 of those on the offensive end for a Nets club that was just 40-for-104 on the night.

Leaks only played 20 games for the Nets that season, returning for 49 more games in 1970-71 and 1971-72, but his 14 offensive rebounds against the Oaks remained the franchise’s ABA single-game record and provided a bright spot in a lost season.

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