After years of going to Nets games at the Brendan Byrne, Continental Airlines Arena, Izod Center, and whatever name it goes by next, I can honestly say, “Yes, the building was a dump but I considered it my team’s dump.” This building is where I saw Drazen Petrovic (my hero) play and inspire me to want to be involved with basketball.
This is the building I was able to witness many Knicks-Nets games and see Shaq rip the backboard down. I feel lucky that I was able to see the debut of Jason Kidd in a Nets uniform and watch him give us the ride of our lives as he led the team to the Finals.
Kidd led the team to six-straight playoff appearances and two trips to the Finals. Then my years on the other side, working with the Nets and becoming a part of the media brought so many memories at the Meadowlands. I give you my top 10 moments of my time at the Meadowlands watching the New Jersey Nets!!ng this week…
10. The Nets welcome Vince Carter; Jefferson scores 42 over LeBron and the Cavs!! Nets vs Cavs 12/22/04 – The Nets introduced Vince Carter both to the audience and the media in a press conference before the game. Carter stated he would have loved to play, but he wanted to rest his injury and debut the following game against Chicago. The Nets played Cleveland and LeBron James. After a video introducing Vince Carter, Richard Jefferson out-dueled LeBron James and scored 42 points to lead New Jersey past Cleveland, 92-90. This ushered in the post-K-Mart era in NJ.
9. Kenyon Martin returns to a love-fest with Nets fans. Nets romp Nuggets, 94-79!! Nets vs Nuggets 2/13/05 – The New Jersey Nets felt like they lost the heart of their team when Kenyon Martin was traded to Denver. The fans felt it just as hard as the players as on opening night a splatter of Ken-yon Mart-in chants rang through the CAA. Fast forward three months later, Kenyon Martin walks into the building he had so much success in for the first time since being eliminated by the Pistons the previous May. The fans not only welcomed Martin, but gave him a standing ovation. Kenyon took it all in, but his Nuggets fell to the Nets behind Vince Carter’s 23 points.
8. Nets make statement against Knicks; Season and franchise derailed from that moment on- 2/28/93 – At the time, this should have been the beginning of the Nets’ surge past their cross-river rival. Instead, a flagrant foul by John Starks on Kenny Anderson caused a downward spiral of injuries that led to a first-round exit against Cleveland.The Nets had a 102-76 victory over the Knicks which felt like the power in the Atlantic was shifting to the swamp. After the disappointment of an early elimination, the Nets had their heart ripped out of the shocking news of the death of shooting guard Drazen Petrovic. Petro’s contract had expired and the Nets hoped to work out a deal to keep him in NJ. Petro’s death sent shock waves around the league and it was a loss that the franchise had a hard time recovering from.
7. Petro Lights up Rockets for 44 points!!! Nets vs Rockets 1/24/93 - The Nets were on the rise and it was Petro-fueled. Drazen Petrovic scored a career-high 44 points against the Rockets. The Nets were officially rolling and getting ready to head into the All-Star break as the third seed in the Eastern Conference. New Jersey routed the Rockets, 100-83.
6. Kidd returns; out-dueled by Harris!! Mavericks vs Nets 12/19/08 – Devin Harris had his coming-out party a month earlier against Detroit and was prepared to play his former team for the second time. Due to nasty weather, many fans were tardy or no-showed the game. This game marked Jason Kidd’s return to NJ since being traded in February. As the scarce crowd gave Kidd his due, the Nets romped the Mavs. Devin Harris scored a career-high 41 points as the crowd at the Izod Center chanted, “Thank you, Cuban.” Kidd’s return was less than spectacular and stated it felt like his first night here as the crowd was small but fired up.
5. Marbury scores 50 on Lakers, but fall! Nets vs Lakers 2/13/01 - The Lakers were on their way to the playoffs and getting ready to persue their second-straight championship. Kobe and Shaq were sort of on the same page and the Nets were having another injury-plagued time. Cakewalk right? Wrong. Stephon Marbury had his career game as he dueled with the defending champs in front a sold out Meadowlands crowd. Marbury scored 50 points and had 12 assists, but fell to Kobe and company, 113-110 in OT.
4. The shot!!!! Nets vs Cavs 4/30/02 – The core was set. Petrovic emerged as a scorer. Coleman was living up to his potential and Kenny Anderson was blossoming with signs of greatness behind Mookie Blaylock. The seeds were planted and the Nets were in the playoffs for the first time since 1986. After losing a tight game in Game One and a blowout in Game Two, what would happen when the series shifted to the Meadowlands? Through a very tough, well-fought game, when it came down to the final seconds and with Craig Ehlo covering him tightly, Drazen Petrovic hit a three in the face and showed the emotion which only his peers had seen before.
3. Nets win second-straight conference championship by sweeping Pistons!! “The New Jersey Nets are going to the NBA Finals!!!” It was the phrase that announcers thought they would never say a year earlier. For the second straight season, New Jersey did the improbable by making their second-straight trip to the Finals before losing to the Spurs, 4-2. New Jersey’s big win against the Pistons was special. Celebrating in your own building is something that you can never put a price on. Listening to Scalabrine and Jefferson yell, “Why don’t the shirts say back-to-back on it??” was priceless.
2. Nets oust Pacers in 2002 playoffs after double-overtime thriller!!! Nets vs Pacers 5/2/02 -The answer is 1998. The question is when was the last time the Nets appeared in the Playoffs. The young Nets were ousted by the Chicago Bulls in a first round sweep. Jayson Williams, Keith Van Horn, Kerry Kittles, Kendall Gill and Sam Cassell were notables on the roster at that point. SLAM! Magazine dedicated a cover to the young nets predicted a championship. Fast forward four years and Nets have arrived!! After multiple efforts of legendary Knick-killer Reggie Miller, the New Jersey Nets ousted the Pacers from the first round of the NBA playoffs in a dramatic five game series. The franchise had only seen the second round once to this point. The Meadowlands crowd watched in awe as Jason Kidd’s 31-point effort willed the team to victory in one of the most exciting games in Meadowlands history.
1. The Nets say goodbye to a fallen friend. Nets vs Pacers 11/11/93 – The home-opener in 1993 was filled with mixed emotions. Derrick Coleman and Kenny Anderson have led the Nets to a 2-1 start on the road and are ready to come back to the Meadowlands for the first time without their friend and teammate Drazen Petrovic. Drazen was killed in a car accident in Germany during the off season. The emotional night began with a long music video tribute to the fallen star followed by the presentation of a retired number three jersey framed and Drazen’s NBA All-Third team plaque. Petro’s parents and dear friend Dino Radja were involved with the ceremony. People felt nothing but emotion the entire night. Players, friends, employees, and even the Pacers, were in tears throughout the tribute. In the end, the Nets fell to the Pacers in overtime, but that wasn’t the story of the night. Petro might be gone, but never forgotten!!
