1991–92 New Jersey Nets season

Nets' 25th season in the National Basketball Association August 2023 March 2026 New Jersey Nets 1992 40 42 Atlantic 3 6 Bill Fitch Brendan Byrne Arena WWOR-TVSportsChannel New York WNEW First round(lost to Cavaliers 1–3) NJN The 1991–92 New Jersey Nets season was the Nets' 25th season in the National Basketball Association, and 16th season in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Brooklyn Nets Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BRK/ August 8, 2026 Season summary Off-season The Nets received the second overall pick in the 1991 NBA draft, and selected point guard Kenny Anderson out of Georgia Tech University. Goldaper Sam Basketball: Hornets Make Johnson No. 1 Pick in the Draft The New York Times June 27, 1991 https://www.nytimes.com/1991/06/27/sports/basketball-hornets-make-johnson-no-1-pick-in-the-draft.html October 14, 2021 Associated Press UNLV's Johnson Is No. 1: NBA Draft: Coaches' Attempts in Charlotte and New Jersey to Select Billy Owens Are Overruled. Three UNLV Players Are Taken in the First Round Los Angeles Times June 27, 1991 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-06-27-sp-1793-story.html November 21, 2022 1991 NBA Draft Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1991.html July 1, 2025 However, Anderson held out early into the regular season due to a contract dispute, Curry Jack Basketball: Nets Finally Sign Anderson The New York Times November 8, 1991 https://www.nytimes.com/1991/11/08/sports/basketball-nets-finally-sign-anderson.html January 19, 2022 Voisin Ailene Nets, Kenny Anderson Floundering in Jersey Greensboro January 5, 1992 https://greensboro.com/nets-kenny-anderson-floundering-in-jersey/article_d2926ac4-1f30-5a9b-9d09-3060cde60ce5.html January 19, 2022 and Roy Hinson would miss the entire season due to a knee injury. Goldaper Sam Basketball: Nets Want Anderson's Autograph The New York Times August 2, 1991 https://www.nytimes.com/1991/08/02/sports/basketball-nets-want-anderson-s-autograph.html November 21, 2022 Lifer Evan st. New Jersey Q&A: Roy Hinson: An Injured Star Hopes to Shine Again The New York Times April 12, 1992 https://www.nytimes.com/1992/04/12/nyregion/new-jersey-q-a-roy-hinson-an-injured-star-hopes-to-shine-again.html November 21, 2022 For the season, the Nets redesigned their road uniforms, replacing the light blue-to-white gradient uniforms from the previous season with royal blue uniforms, which featured a red and white trim and red side panels on their jerseys and shorts; these uniforms would remain in use until 1997. New Jersey Nets Road Uniform Chris Creamer's SportsLogos.net https://www.sportslogos.net/logos/view/8zgzn491sjpjfxoq6fudj07h3/New_Jersey_Nets/1992/Road_Uniform January 22, 2022 Regular season With the addition of Anderson, the Nets struggled losing 11 of their first 13 games of the regular season, and later on held a 7–18 start to the season. The team posted a five-game winning streak in January, and later on held a 19–28 record at the All-Star break. NBA Games Played on February 6, 1992 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/index.fcgi?month=2&day=6&year=1992 November 21, 2022 The Nets posted an eight-game losing streak between January and February, but won nine of their final twelve games of the season, finishing in third place in the Atlantic Division with a 40–42 record, and earning the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference; 1991–92 New Jersey Nets Schedule and Results Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NJN/1992_games.html October 14, 2021 the team qualified for the NBA playoffs for the first time since the 1985–86 season. Dražen Petrović showed improvement becoming the team's starting shooting guard, averaging 20.6 points and 1.3 steals per game, and also leading the Nets with 123 three-point field goals, while second-year star Derrick Coleman averaged 19.8 points, 9.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game, and Sam Bowie provided the team with 15.0 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game. In addition, Mookie Blaylock contributed 13.8 points, 6.8 assists and 2.4 steals per game, while Chris Morris provided with 11.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game. Off the bench, second-year forward Terry Mills averaged 9.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, while Anderson played a role as backup point guard for Blaylock, averaging 7.0 points and 3.2 assists per game, second-year guard Tate George contributed 6.0 points per game, Rafael Addison provided with 5.8 points per game, and Chris Dudley averaged 5.6 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game. 1991–92 New Jersey Nets Roster and Stats Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NJN/1992.html October 14, 2021 During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Orlando Arena in Orlando, Florida, Petrović participated in the NBA Three-Point Shootout; Pro Basketball Gadsden Times February 8, 1992 D2 https://books.google.com/books?id=H3EfAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA10&dq=1992+NBA+slam+dunk+roster&article_id=7135,868277&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiTgMOr2p2QAxVfLtAFHVQuNtIQ6AF6BAgGEAM#v=onepage&q=1992%20NBA%20slam%20dunk%20roster&f=false October 12, 2025 NBA & ABA All-Star Game Contest Winners Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/allstar/contest.html October 12, 2025 he also finished in second place in Most Improved Player voting, behind Pervis Ellison of the Washington Bullets, while Blaylock finished tied in eleventh place, Associated Press  NBA Names Ellison Most Improved Player  Deseret News  May 7, 1992  https://www.deseret.com/1992/5/7/18982748/nba-names-ellison-most-improved-player/ December 8, 2025 1991–92 NBA Awards Voting Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/awards_1992.html January 3, 2022 and head coach Bill Fitch finished in sixth place in Coach of the Year voting. The Nets finished 23rd in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 517,356 at the Brendan Byrne Arena during the regular season, which was the fifth-lowest in the league. 1991–92 NBA Season Summary Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1992.html February 24, 2026 NBA playoffs In the Eastern Conference First Round of the 1992 NBA playoffs, the Nets faced off against the 3rd–seeded Cleveland Cavaliers, who were led by the trio of All-Star center Brad Daugherty, All-Star guard Mark Price, and Larry Nance. The Nets lost the first two games to the Cavaliers on the road at the Coliseum at Richfield, but managed to win Game 3 at home, 109–104 at the Brendan Byrne Arena. 1992 NBA Eastern Conference First Round Game 3: Cleveland Cavaliers at New Jersey Nets Box Score, April 28, 1992 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199204280NJN.html June 30, 2026 However, the Nets lost Game 4 to the Cavaliers at home, 98–89, thus losing the series in four games. Harvin Al Pro Basketball: Nets a House Afire, But the Wrong Kind The New York Times May 1, 1992 https://www.nytimes.com/1992/05/01/sports/pro-basketball-nets-a-house-afire-but-the-wrong-kind.html October 14, 2021 Associated Press Cavaliers Defeat Nets, 98-89, to Earn a Shot at the Celtics Deseret News May 1, 1992 https://www.deseret.com/1992/5/1/18981644/cavaliers-defeat-nets-98-89-to-earn-a-shot-at-the-celtics April 18, 2023 1992 NBA Eastern Conference First Round: Nets vs. Cavaliers Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1992-nba-eastern-conference-first-round-nets-vs-cavaliers.html April 18, 2023 Aftermath Following the season, Blaylock and Hinson were both traded to the Atlanta Hawks, Berger Phil Basketball: Nets Reduce Logjam by Trading Blaylock to Hawks The New York Times November 4, 1992 https://www.nytimes.com/1992/11/04/sports/basketball-nets-reduce-logjam-by-trading-blaylock-to-hawks.html December 31, 2021 Staff and Wire Reports New Jersey Trades Blaylock to Atlanta Los Angeles Times November 4, 1992 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-11-04-sp-1160-story.html July 26, 2022 Associated Press Nets Ship Blaylock to Hawks Deseret News November 4, 1992 https://www.deseret.com/1992/11/4/19014455/nets-ship-blaylock-to-hawks?_amp=true December 4, 2022 while Mills signed as a free agent with the Detroit Pistons, Sports People: Pro Basketball: A Summit Conference Between Nets and Mills The New York Times September 26, 1992 https://www.nytimes.com/1992/09/26/sports/sports-people-pro-basketball-a-summit-conference-between-nets-and-mills.html November 21, 2022 Miscellany Los Angeles Times September 16, 1992 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-09-16-sp-845-story.html November 21, 2022 and Fitch resigned as head coach after clashing with his young stars. Araton Harvey Basketball: Nets Ready to Replace Fitch as Coach The New York Times May 7, 1992 https://www.nytimes.com/1992/05/07/sports/basketball-nets-ready-to-replace-fitch-as-coach.html November 21, 2022 Thomas Jr. Robert Mcg. Basketball: Fitch Says He Made the Decision to Step Down as Coach of the Nets The New York Times May 13, 1992 https://www.nytimes.com/1992/05/13/sports/basketball-fitch-says-he-made-the-decision-to-step-down-as-coach-of-the-nets.html November 21, 2022 Draft picks 1991 NBA draft Round Pick Player Position Nationality College 1 2 Kenny Anderson PG United States Georgia Tech 2 53 Von McDade SG United States Milwaukee Roster New Jersey Nets 1991–92 #0C479D #FFFFFF #EC0044 #FFFFFF 21 Rafael Addison SF 6 7 215 1964-07-22 Syracuse 7 Kenny Anderson basketball PG 6 0 168 1970-10-09 Georgia Tech 10 Mookie Blaylock PG 6 0 180 1967-03-20 Oklahoma 31 Sam Bowie C 7 1 235 1961-03-17 Kentucky 44 Derrick Coleman PF 6 10 230 1967-06-21 Syracuse 22 Chris Dudley C 6 11 235 1965-02-22 Yale 54 Dave Feitl C 6 11 235 1962-06-08 Texas-El Paso 12 Tate George SG 6 5 190 1968-05-29 Connecticut 6 Roy Hinson PF 6 9 210 1961-05-02 Rutgers yes IN 20 Doug Lee basketball SG 6 5 200 1964-10-24 Purdue 5 Terry Mills basketball PF 6 10 230 1967-12-21 Michigan 34 Chris Morris basketball SF 6 8 210 1966-01-20 Auburn 3 Dražen Petrović SG 6 5 195 1964-10-22 Croatia Bill Fitch Rick Carlisle Tom Newell (IN) Inactive Roster notes Power forward Roy Hinson was on the injured reserve list due to a knee injury, and missed the entire regular season. Regular season Season standings NJN y – clinched division title x – clinched playoff spot NJN z – clinched division title y – clinched division title x – clinched playoff spot Game log New Jersey Nets 1992 Total: 40–42 New Jersey Nets November yes no |- | 1 | November 2 | @ Charlotte | W 116–108 | | | | | 1–0 |- | 2 | November 6 | @ Philadelphia | L 105–107 | | | | | 1–1 |- | 3 | November 7 | Miami | L 89–111 | | | | | 1–2 |- | 4 | November 9 | Detroit | L 100–110 | | | | | 1–3 |- | 5 | November 12 | @ New York | L 96–98 | | | | | 1–4 |- | 6 | November 13 | Utah | L 92–98 | | | | | 1–5 |- | 7 | November 15 | Washington | L 111–116 (OT) | | | | | 1–6 |- | 8 | November 16 | @ Orlando | L 100–102 | | | | | 1–7 |- | 9 | November 19 | Sacramento | W 122–118 | | | | | 2–7 |- | 10 | November 21 | @ Cleveland | L 112–116 | | | | | 2–8 |- | 11 | November 23 | Boston | L 107–125 | | | | | 2–9 |- | 12 | November 26 | @ Houston | L 109–118 | | | | | 2–10 |- | 13 | November 27 | @ San Antonio | L 100–106 | | | | | 2–11 |- | 14 | November 29 | @ Dallas | W 97–91 | | | | | 3–11 |- | 15 | November 30 | @ Denver | L 97–107 | | | | | 3–12 New Jersey Nets December no |- | 16 | December 3 | Philadelphia | W 88–86 | | | | | 4–12 |- | 17 | December 5 | @ Milwaukee | W 109–101 | | | | | 5–12 |- | 18 | December 6 | L. A. Lakers | L 89–98 | | | | | 5–13 |- | 19 | December 10 | New York | L 88–114 | | | | | 5–14 |- | 20 | December 12 | Denver | W 121–81 | | | | | 6–14 |- | 21 | December 14 | Charlotte | L 102–109 | | | | | 6–15 |- | 22 | December 17 | @ New York | L 94–102 | | | | | 6–16 |- | 23 | December 18 | Cleveland | W 102–93 | | | | | 7–16 |- | 24 | December 20 | Chicago | L 98–115 | | | | | 7–17 |- | 25 | December 21 | @ Indiana | L 109–118 (OT) | | | | | 7–18 |- | 26 | December 23 | Atlanta | W 105–93 | | | | | 8–18 |- | 27 | December 26 | Houston | W 99–93 | | | | | 9–18 |- | 28 | December 27 | @ Charlotte | W 136–120 | | | | | 10–18 |- | 29 | December 30 | Orlando | W 122–112 | | | | | 11–18 New Jersey Nets January no |- | 30 | January 3 | Washington | L 108–112 | | | | | 11–19 |- | 31 | January 4 | @ Chicago | L 96–140 | | | | | 11–20 |- | 32 | January 6 | L. A. Clippers | W 105–90 | | | | | 12–20 |- | 33 | January 8 | Minnesota | W 103–97 | | | | | 13–20 |- | 34 | January 10 | Milwaukee | W 104–97 | | | | | 14–20 |- | 35 | January 11 | @ Detroit | L 88–90 | | | | | 14–21 |- | 36 | January 14 | Dallas | W 97–88 | | | | | 15–21 |- | 37 | January 15 | @ Boston | W 130–120 | | | | | 16–21 |- | 38 | January 18 | @ Minnesota | W 112–100 | | | | | 17–21 |- | 39 | January 22 | Phoenix | W 106–104 | | | | | 18–21 |- | 40 | January 24 | Miami | W 123–117 | | | | | 19–21 |- | 41 | January 25 | @ Philadelphia | L 94–115 | | | | | 19–22 |- | 42 | January 28 | @ Sacramento | L 118–124 | | | | | 19–23 |- | 43 | January 29 | @ Phoenix | L 95–128 | | | | | 19–24 |- | 44 | January 31 | @ Portland | L 108–113 | | | | | 19–25 New Jersey Nets February no |- | 45 | February 1 | @ L. A. Clippers | L 88–99 | | | | | 19–26 |- | 46 | February 5 | Seattle | L 85–95 | | | | | 19–27 |- | 47 | February 6 | @ Washington | L 108–124 | | | | | 19–28 |- | 48 | February 11 | @ Chicago | L 113–133 | | | | | 19–29 |- | 49 | February 12 | @ Philadelphia | W 102–87 | | | | | 20–29 |- | 50 | February 14 | Philadelphia | W 107–99 | | | | | 21–29 |- | 51 | February 15 | @ Cleveland | L 92–128 | | | | | 21–30 |- | 52 | February 19 | Detroit | W 106–102 | | | | | 22–30 |- | 53 | February 21 | Indiana | W 105–101 | | | | | 23–30 |- | 54 | February 22 | @ Atlanta | L 107–119 | | | | | 23–31 |- | 55 | February 25 | Boston | W 109–95 | | | | | 24–31 |- | 56 | February 27 | Portland | W 98–96 | | | | | 25–31 |- | 57 | February 29 | @ Detroit | W 99–90 | | | | | 26–31 New Jersey Nets March no |- | 58 | March 1 | New York | W 90–75 | | | | | 27–31 |- | 59 | March 4 | @ L. A. Lakers | L 92–101 | | | | | 27–32 |- | 60 | March 6 | @ Utah | L 96–117 | | | | | 27–33 |- | 61 | March 7 | @ Seattle | L 98–109 | | | | | 27–34 |- | 62 | March 10 | @ Golden State | L 122–129 | | | | | 27–35 |- | 63 | March 13 | @ Boston | W 110–108 | | | | | 28–35 |- | 64 | March 14 | @ New York | W 96–94 (OT) | | | | | 29–35 |- | 65 | March 17 | Chicago | L 79–90 | | | | | 29–36 |- | 66 | March 20 | Washington | W 99–96 | | | | | 30–36 |- | 67 | March 22 | @ Miami | L 100–107 | | | | | 30–37 |- | 68 | March 23 | Charlotte | W 123–120 | | | | | 31–37 |- | 69 | March 25 | Boston | L 110–118 | | | | | 31–38 |- | 70 | March 28 | Golden State | L 148–153 (OT) | | | | | 31–39 |- | 71 | March 30 | San Antonio | W 117–109 | | | | | 32–39 New Jersey Nets April no |- | 72 | April 1 | @ Milwaukee | W 121–117 | | | | | 33–39 |- | 73 | April 3 | Milwaukee | W 122–103 | | | | | 34–39 |- | 74 | April 5 | @ Indiana | W 128–120 | | | | | 35–39 |- | 75 | April 7 | Atlanta | L 97–104 | | | | | 35–40 |- | 76 | April 8 | @ Washington | W 109–103 | | | | | 36–40 |- | 77 | April 10 | Cleveland | W 110–86 | | | | | 37–40 |- | 78 | April 11 | @ Atlanta | L 98–118 | | | | | 37–41 |- | 79 | April 13 | @ Orlando | W 110–104 | | | | | 38–41 |- | 80 | April 14 | @ Miami | W 105–100 | | | | | 39–41 |- | 81 | April 16 | Indiana | L 113–119 | | | | | 39–42 |- | 82 | April 18 | Orlando | W 127–111 | | | | | 40–42 Playoffs New Jersey Nets 1992 yes #0C479D #FFFFFF New Jersey Nets First Round yes yes no #EC0044 #FFFFFF 1 1 0 2 |- | 1 | April 23 | @ Cleveland | L 113–120 | Dražen Petrović (40) | Derrick Coleman (11) | Derrick Coleman (9) | Richfield Coliseum16,512 | 0–1 |- | 2 | April 25 | @ Cleveland | L 96–118 | Derrick Coleman (24) | Derrick Coleman (9) | Mookie Blaylock (6) | Richfield Coliseum20,273 | 0–2 |- | 3 | April 28 | Cleveland | W 109–104 | Chris Morris (28) | Derrick Coleman (11) | Mookie Blaylock (12) | Brendan Byrne Arena15,258 | 1–2 |- | 4 | April 30 | Cleveland | L 89–98 | Coleman, Morris (22) | Derrick Coleman (14) | Derrick Coleman (6) | Brendan Byrne Arena13,071 | 1–3 NJN 1992 yes Player statistics Season PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPGDražen Petrović828236.9.508.444.8083.13.11.30.120.6Derrick Coleman655834.0.504.303.7639.53.20.81.519.8Sam Bowie716130.7.445.320.7578.12.60.61.715.0Mookie Blaylock726735.4.432.222.7123.76.82.40.613.8Chris Morris777431.1.477.200.7146.42.61.71.111.4Terry Mills822420.9.463.348.7505.51.00.60.59.0Kenny Anderson641317.0.390.231.7452.03.21.00.17.0Tate George70214.8.427.167.8211.52.30.60.06.0Rafael Addison76815.5.433.286.7372.20.90.40.45.8Chris Dudley822123.2.403.4689.00.70.52.25.6Jud Buechler2014.5.5001.01.01.00.54.0Doug Lee4606.7.431.270.5260.80.50.20.02.6Dave Feitl3405.1.429.8421.80.20.10.12.4 Playoffs PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPGDražen Petrović4440.8.539.333.8462.53.31.00.324.3Derrick Coleman4440.5.486.167.76211.35.31.81.022.3Chris Morris4433.8.552.400.7785.01.31.81.818.8Mookie Blaylock4437.0.309.167.7504.07.83.80.59.5Sam Bowie4428.0.424.500.6674.82.30.80.89.3Terry Mills4019.3.370.000.6366.02.00.30.56.8Rafael Addison109.0.286.5000.01.00.00.05.0Tate George4011.0.304.3330.02.00.80.33.8Chris Dudley4019.3.357.5006.30.80.52.53.5Kenny Anderson308.0.3331.0001.01.00.30.02.7Dave Feitl103.0.5001.00.00.00.02.0Doug Lee203.0.000.0000.00.50.00.50.0 Player statistics citation: References New Jersey Nets on Database Basketball New Jersey Nets on Basketball Reference New Jersey Nets season Category:New Jersey Nets seasons New Jersey Nets New Jersey Nets Category:20th century in East Rutherford, New Jersey Category:Meadowlands Sports Complex