Brooklyn Nets: History of Nets in NBA All-Star Game
By Phil Watson
2014: Joe Johnson
Joe Johnson was something of a surprise selection when he was named to represent the Brooklyn Nets at the 2014 NBA All-Star Game in New Orleans, making it three straight years the Nets had an All-Star.
The 32-year-old, in his 13th NBA season, had been a six-time All-Star selection with the Atlanta Hawks before being traded to Brooklyn in July 2012 in advance of the Nets’ first season in their new home.
Johnson began his career with the Boston Celtics in 2001 before being traded to the Phoenix Suns as a rookie. He played parts of four seasons there before going to the Hawks in a sign-and-trade deal in the summer of 2005.
He entered the break averaging 15.0 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 33.1 minutes per game, shooting 43.8 percent overall and 39 percent on 4.9 3-point attempts per game in 49 appearances.
Brooklyn, after a slow start under first-year head coach Jason Kidd and the addition of veteran stars Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce from the Boston Celtics in an offseason trade, entered the break at 24-27 after flirting with 50 wins the previous campaign.
In the game itself, Johnson played only 10 minutes, scoring five points with a rebound and an assist on 2-of-7 shooting, making only 1-of-6 from long range.
With it was enough as the East rallied in the fourth quarter for a 163-155 victory over the West, with Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers earning MVP honors with 31 points and 14 assists on 14-of-17 shooting, including 3-of-6 from deep.
As for the Brooklyn Nets, they closed the season with 20 wins in their final 31 games to finish 44-38 and advanced to the postseason for the second straight year.
The Nets upset the third-seeded Toronto Raptors in the first round, winning Game 7 on the road 104-103, before bowing in five games to the two-time defending champion Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
As for Johnson, he was bought out by the Nets in February 2016 and finished that season witht eh Miami Heat before signing with the Utah Jazz in July 2016.
He was traded as part of a three-team deal to the Sacramento Kings in February 2018 before he was waived and signed to finish the season with the Houston Rockets. He remains unsigned after becoming an unrestricted free agent last July.