1993–94 New Jersey Nets season
| 1993–94 New Jersey Nets season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Chuck Daly |
| General manager | Willis Reed |
| Arena | Brendan Byrne Arena |
| Results | |
| Record | 45–37 (.549) |
| Place | Division: 3rd (Atlantic) Conference: 7th (Eastern) |
| Playoff finish | First round (lost to Knicks 1–3) |
Stats at Basketball Reference | |
| Local media | |
| Television | WWOR-TV SportsChannel New York |
| Radio | WBBR/WPAT/WEVD |
The 1993–94 New Jersey Nets season was the Nets' 27th season in the National Basketball Association, and 18th season in East Rutherford, New Jersey. After the tragic death of star guard Dražen Petrović, who died in a car accident at the age of 28 on June 7, 1993, the Nets signed free agents Kevin Edwards, Armen Gilliam, and undrafted rookie guard David Wesley, and acquired Benoit Benjamin from the Los Angeles Lakers during the off-season.
The Nets got off to a rough start by losing 10 of their first 14 games of the regular season, as Chris Morris only played just 50 games due to knee and thumb injuries. In December, the team traded Rumeal Robinson to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Johnny Newman. However, after holding a 22–24 at the All-Star break, the Nets won 8 of their final 11 games of the season, finishing in third place in the Atlantic Division with a 45–37 record, and earning the #7 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Derrick Coleman averaged 20.2 points, 11.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team, while Kenny Anderson averaged 18.8 points, 9.6 assists and 1.9 steals per game, and Edwards provided the team with 14.0 points and 1.5 steals per game. In addition, Gilliam played a sixth man role off the bench, averaging 11.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, while Morris provided with 10.9 points per game, Newman contributed 9.5 points per game off the bench, Benjamin averaged 9.4 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game, and rookie forward P.J. Brown provided with 5.7 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.
Coleman and Anderson were both selected for the 1994 NBA All-Star Game in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Gilliam finished in fifth place in Sixth Man of the Year voting, while Newman finished tied in sixth place, and head coach Chuck Daly finished tied in fifth place in Coach of the Year voting.
However, in the Eastern Conference First Round of the 1994 NBA playoffs, the Nets lost in four games to the New York Knicks. The Knicks reached the 1994 NBA Finals, but lost in seven games to the Houston Rockets.
Following the season, Daly resigned as head coach to pursue a broadcasting career, while Newman signed as a free agent with the Milwaukee Bucks, and Wesley signed with the Boston Celtics.