15 Players the Brooklyn Nets gave up on way too soon
By Tyler Watts
8. Sleepy Floyd
Floyd was the 13th overall pick in the 1982 draft by the Nets after four years at Georgetown where he helped the Hoyas reached the NCAA Finals in 1982. The 6’3 rookie was playing behind Darwin Cook and Otis Birdsong before being traded to the Warriors near the deadline. The Nets were looking to take the next step, so they swapped the young guard for three-time All-Star, Michael Ray Richardson.
Richardson played well in New Jersey as he helped lead the Nets to the playoffs four straight years, but Floyd took his game to another level in Golden State. He quickly became the Warriors’ starter and averaged 17.7 points, 6.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.6 steals in 33.9 minutes per game. Floyd was an All-Star in 1987 as Golden State reached the second round of the playoffs.
Sleepy Floyd played 13 years in NBA, and he was a starting point guard for seven. The 6’3 guard made seven playoff appearances. Richardson last played in the NBA in 1986 as part of a suspension. It was lifted in 1988, but the guard decided to continue playing in Europe.
The New Jersey Nets made seven playoff appearances during Floyd’s career, but they cycled through several guards during that stretch. They certainly gave up on the talented guard too soon as he played just 43 of his 957 career games with the Nets.