1973–74 New York Nets season
The 1973–74 New York Nets season was the seventh season in the ABA basketball New York Nets franchise. The Nets won their first ABA Championship against the Utah Stars.
Offseason
ABA Draft
| Round |
Pick |
Player |
Position |
School/Club Team |
|---|
|
Exhibition games
On September 18, 1973 the Nets opened the ABA vs. NBA exhibition season against the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers. Playing in Binghamton, New York, the Nets beat the 76ers 94-88. On September 28 the Nets again faced the 76ers, this time in Trenton, New Jersey. The Nets also won this matchup, 118-100.
On September 29 in White Plains, New York the Nets faced the Washington Bullets. Julius Erving scored a game-high 42 points as the Nets prevailed 127-121.
On October 2, 17,226 fans showed up at Madison Square Garden to watch the Nets play the New York Knicks. Erving scored 27 points, 12 of them in the third quarter, as the Nets won 97-87.
On October 7 the Nets took their 4–0 streak against NBA teams into a contest with the Boston Celtics in Uniondale, New York. Erving scored 23 points, but John Havlicek scored 37 for Boston as the Celtics won, 121-102.[1]
Regular season
Season standings
[2]
Schedule
| Game | Date | Opponent | Result | Nets points | Opponents | Record | Streak | Notes |
| 1 | October 10 | Indiana Pacers | Loss | 99 | 118 | 0-1 | Lost 1 | |
| 2 | October 12 | Virginia Squires | Win | 116 | 105 | 1-1 | Won 1 | |
|
[3]
Player stats
Note: GP= Games played; MIN= Minutes; STL= Steals; REB = Rebounds; ASST = Assists; BLK = Blocks; PTS = Points
| Player |
GP |
MIN |
STL |
REB |
ASST |
BLK |
PTS |
|
| Julius Erving |
84 |
3398 |
190 |
899 |
434 |
204 |
2299 |
| Larry Kenon |
84 |
2908 |
79 |
962 |
112 |
19 |
1334 |
| Billy Paultz |
77 |
2596 |
60 |
782 |
167 |
147 |
1260 |
| John Williamson |
77 |
2264 |
86 |
213 |
243 |
27 |
1116 |
| Brian Taylor |
75 |
2505 |
154 |
214 |
341 |
22 |
834 |
| John Roche |
50 |
1254 |
41 |
59 |
208 |
6 |
570 |
| Willard Sojourner |
82 |
1316 |
24 |
335 |
54 |
88 |
458 |
| Billy Schaeffer |
59 |
871 |
24 |
141 |
37 |
9 |
385 |
| Bill Melchionni |
56 |
1146 |
51 |
77 |
207 |
5 |
296 |
| Mike Gale |
32 |
904 |
60 |
152 |
124 |
34 |
257 |
| Wendell Ladner |
30 |
637 |
46 |
161 |
65 |
3 |
203 |
| Gary Gregor |
25 |
313 |
4 |
71 |
15 |
1 |
91 |
| Jim O'Brien |
11 |
54 |
3 |
17 |
6 |
3 |
39 |
| Oliver Taylor |
8 |
76 |
3 |
14 |
10 |
0 |
28 |
| Rich Rinaldi |
5 |
28 |
2 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
12 |
| Bob Lackey |
3 |
15 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
6 |
|
[4]
Playoffs
Eastern Division Semifinals: 4-1 over Virginia Squires
| Game | Date | Away Team | Home Team
|
|---|
| 1 | Fri, March 29 | Virginia Squires 96 | New York Nets 108
|
| 2 | Mon, April 1 | Virginia Squires 110 | New York Nets 129
|
| 3 | Thu, April 4 | New York Nets 115 | Virginia Squires 116
|
| 4 | Sun, April 7 | New York Nets 116 | Virginia Squires 88
|
| 5 | Mon, April 8 | Virginia Squires 96 | New York Nets 108
|
Eastern Division Finals 4-0 over Kentucky Colonels
| Game | Date | Away Team | Home Team
|
|---|
| 1 | Sat, April 13 | Kentucky Colonels 106 | New York Nets 119
|
| 2 | Mon, April 15 | Kentucky Colonels 80 | New York Nets 99
|
| 3 | Wed, April 17 | New York Nets 89 | Kentucky Colonels 87
|
| 4 | Sat, April 20 | New York Nets 103 | Kentucky Colonels 90
|
ABA Finals: Won 4-1 over Utah Stars
| Game | Date | Away Team | Home Team
|
|---|
| 1 | Tue, April 30 | Utah Stars 85 | New York Nets 89
|
| 2 | Sat, May 4 | Utah Stars 94 | New York Nets 118
|
| 3 | Mon, May 6 | New York Nets 103 | Utah Stars 100
|
| 4 | Wed, May 8 | New York Nets 89 | Utah Stars 97
|
| 5 | Fri, May 10 | Utah Stars 100 | New York Nets 111
|
Transactions
Draft and other non-trade signings
- Special circumstance draft pick Jim Brewer signs with Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA
- Undergraduate draft pick Campy Russell stays in college
- Head coach Lou Carnesecca returns to St. John's University
- Kevin Loughery becomes head coach
- Draft pick Doug Collins signs with Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA
- Draft pick Kermit Washington signs with Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA
- William M. Skehan is named Executive Vice President
Trades
- August 1, 1973: George Carter and ABA rights to Kermit Washington and $750,000 traded to the Virginia Squires for Julius Erving and Willie Sojourner
- September 20, 1973: Jim Ard and John Baum traded to the Memphis Tams for the rights to Larry Kenon
- January 24, 1974: John Roche traded to the Kentucky Colonels for Mike Gale and Wendell Ladner
Awards, Records and Honors
- Julius Erving, ABA MVP
- Julius Erving, Finals MVP
- Julius Erving, All-Star Team, East Division
- Larry Kenon, All-Star Team, East Division
- Billy Paultz, All-Star Team, East Division (missed game due to injury)
- Julius Erving, All-ABA Team, 1st Team
- Larry Kenon, ABA All-Rookie Team
- John Williamson, ABA All-Rookie Team
- Mike Gale, ABA All-Defensive Team
References
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