Brooklyn Nets: History of Nets in NBA All-Star Game

2012: Deron Williams

The New Jersey Nets nabbed their first All-Star berth in three years when Deron Williams was selected as an Eastern Conference reserve in 2012.

In the lockout-shortened 2011-12 season, Williams had averaged 22.2 points, 8.2 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 37.4 minutes per game in 34 games prior to the break, shooting 41.3 percent overall and 37.1 percent on 6.5 attempts a game from 3-point range.

Williams, 27, had been an All-Star each of the previous two seasons with the Utah Jazz before coming to New Jersey in a deadline deal in February 2011 that sent former All-Star Devin Harris, rookie Derrick Favors and two first-round picks to the Jazz.

The Nets, though, in their second season under coach Avery Johnson, were still rebuilding and entered the break at 10-25, last in the Atlantic Division and 13th in the Eastern Conference.

In the All-Star Game at Orlando, Williams played well in 18 minutes, scoring 20 points with four assists, three rebounds and a steal while hitting 8-of-11 overall and 4-of-7 from deep.

But the East, despite a strong second half, couldn’t dig out of a 19-point halftime hole and lost to the West 152-149. Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder led the West to the win and earned MVP honors by scoring 36 points with seven rebounds, three assists and three steals.

The Nets played better after the break, finishing 12-19, but were well out of the playoff picture.

Williams would never earn another All-Star nod and was bought out by the Nets, who had moved to Brooklyn by then, in July 2015.

He signed with the Dallas Mavericks three days after he was let go by the Nets and re-upped with them the following summer before he was waived in February 2017. Williams finished the 2016-17 season with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Williams has not played since becoming a free agent in July 2017, but has not announced his retirement either.