2000–01 New Jersey Nets season
| 2000–01 New Jersey Nets season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Byron Scott |
| Owners | Lewis Katz |
| Arena | Continental Airlines Arena |
| Results | |
| Record | 26–56 (.317) |
| Place | Division: 6th (Atlantic) Conference: 12th (Eastern) |
| Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
Stats at Basketball Reference | |
The 2000–01 New Jersey Nets season was the Nets' 34th season in the National Basketball Association, and 25th season in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Despite finishing with a 31–51 record the previous season, the Nets won the NBA draft lottery, and selected power forward Kenyon Martin from the University of Cincinnati with the first overall pick in the 2000 NBA draft, and signed free agents Aaron Williams, and rookie shooting guard Stephen Jackson during the off-season.
Under new head coach, retired Los Angeles Lakers guard Byron Scott, the Nets got off to a 6–4 start to the regular season, but then lost nine consecutive games while losing 17 of their next 20 games. The team dealt with injuries as Keith Van Horn only played just 49 games due to a leg injury, while Kendall Gill only appeared in just 31 games due to tendinitis in his right knee, and Kerry Kittles missed the entire season due to a knee injury. The Nets lost their final six games of the season, finishing in sixth place in the Atlantic Division with a 26–56 record.
Stephon Marbury averaged 23.9 points and 7.6 assists per game, and was selected for the 2001 NBA All-Star Game in Washington, D.C., while Van Horn averaged 17.0 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, and Martin provided the team with 12.0 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team, and also finished in second place in Rookie of the Year voting. In addition, sixth man Johnny Newman contributed 10.9 points per game off the bench, while Williams provided with 10.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game also off the bench, Lucious Harris contributed 9.4 points per game, Gill averaged 9.1 points and 1.5 steals per game, and Jackson contributed 8.2 points per game.
Following the season, Marbury was traded along with Newman to the Phoenix Suns, while Gill signed with the Miami Heat, Jackson signed with the San Antonio Spurs, and Sherman Douglas retired.
For the season, the Nets slightly changed their grey alternate road uniforms, which remained in use until 2005.