The Brooklyn Nets were founded in 1967 as the New Jersey Americans. The franchise later shifted from New Jersey to Brooklyn. It has been owned by Joseph Tsai since 2019. The team boasts two ABA championships and multiple historic playoff runs.
The Nets have been home to unmatched playmakers and scorers like “Dr. J”, Jason Kidd, and Kevin Durant. From defensive warriors to electric scorers, here’s the list of the top 10 Brooklyn Nets players of all time.
10) Derrick Coleman
Coleman’s five seasons with New Jersey (now Brooklyn Nets) (1990-1995) showcased his versatile talent, averaging 19.9 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 3.1 assists. The former No. 1 pick earned All-Star honors in 1994 and was named to the All-Rookie First Team in 1991. Coleman recorded 113 double-doubles for the Nets and helped lead them to three playoff appearances.
9) Richard Jefferson
Richard Jefferson provided athletic wing play for seven seasons (2001-2008), averaging 17.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.0 assists. He played 489 games for the Brooklyn Nets. His performance was appreciated during the Nets’ consecutive Finals runs in 2002 and 2003. Jefferson developed from role player to scoring leader, peaking at 22.6 points per game in 2007-08.
8) Brook Lopez
Brook Lopez played for the Brooklyn Nets for nine seasons (2008-2017), becoming the franchise’s all-time leading scorer with 10,444 points. He averaged 18.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks across 562 games. A 2013 All-Star, Lopez’s scoring touch and durability provided stability through multiple franchise rebuilds.
7) Kyrie Irving
Irving’s tenure with the Brooklyn Nets (2019-2023) averaged 27.1 points and 5.8 assists on elite 49/43/92 shooting splits in. He played 143 games. His 50-point debut and a historic 60-point masterpiece against Orlando in 2022 were remarkable. Irving joined the 50/40/90 club in 2020-21 while earning two All-Star selections and an All-NBA Third Team honor as a Net.
6) Drazen Petrovic
Petrovic’s brilliant but tragically short Brooklyn Nets career (1991-1993) saw him average 19.5 points, shooting 50.6% from the field and 44.3% from three. The Croatian shooting guard earned All-NBA Third Team honors in 1993 and established himself as one of the league’s premier shooters. His 22.3 points per game in 1992-93 showcased his scoring ability before his life was cut short in a car accident. Drazen’s No. 3 jersey was retired by the Nets.
Drazen Petrovic aka The Mozart Of Basketball 🎶🏀 pic.twitter.com/XaudV9de1T
— Fastbreak Hoops (@FastbreakHoops5) August 21, 2025
5) Buck Williams
Williams played for the Brooklyn Nets for eight seasons (1981-1989), averaging 16.4 points and 11.9 rebounds while setting franchise records with 6,363 rebounds and 3,981 field goals made. He made three All-Star appearances and earned All-NBA Second Team honors in 1983. Williams led the NBA in offensive rebounds twice and ranks first in Nets history for total rebounds and offensive rebounds.
Buck Williams laying one up for the New Jersey Nets. pic.twitter.com/91Cz0fGZx7
— Paul Knepper (@paulieknep) January 10, 2024
Also Read: Ranking the Top 10 NBA Players in History
4) Vince Carter
Carter played 374 games for New Jersey(now Brooklyn Nets) (2004-2009), averaging 23.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game while shooting 44.7% from the field and 36.9% from three. He earned three All-Star selections (2005, 2006, 2007) and twice scored over 2,000 points in a season (2004–05, 2006–07). Carter recorded 72 games with 30+ points, including a 51-point game against Miami in 2005. He averaged 25.2 PPG in 2004–05 and 24.2 PPG in 2005–06. His 8,834 total points rank fourth in franchise history.
3) Kevin Durant
Durant played 129 regular-season games for the Brooklyn Nets (2019–2023), averaging 29.0 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game on 52.4% shooting from the field, 40.1% from three, and 91.0% from the free-throw line. He recorded 38 games with 40+ points and set the franchise record for highest career scoring average. In the 2021 playoffs, he averaged 34.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 4.4 assists, including a 49-point, 17-rebound, 10-assist game against Milwaukee. Durant led Brooklyn in scoring each season he played and was named to the All-NBA Second Team twice (2022, 2023).
2) Julius Erving
Julius Erving played 252 games for the ABA Nets (now Brooklyn Nets) (1973–1976), averaging 28.2 points, 10.9 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 2.3 steals, and 2.0 blocks per game while shooting 50.8% from the field. He won three consecutive ABA MVPs (1974, 1975, 1976) and led the Nets to two championships (1974, 1976), earning Finals MVP both times. In the 1976 playoffs, he averaged 34.7 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 4.9 assists. Erving scored 45+ points eight times, including a career-high 63 in 1975. He made three ABA All-Star teams with the Nets and led the league in scoring twice (1974, 1976).
Julius Erving’s NBA & ABA Years Combined:
3 Rings
4 MVPs
2 FMVPs
12x All-NBA/ABA
16x All-Star
1x All-Defense
6 FinalsPrime Stats (1972-1984): 25/9/4, 2.1 stls, 1.7 blks, 51%FG
Had the NBA included ABA accomplishments, Dr J. would have a Top-8 GOAT resume. pic.twitter.com/FIfHjzHJRa
— The NBA Realist (@nbarealist23) November 1, 2023
Who is the greatest Brooklyn Nets player of all time?
Jason Kidd
Jason Kidd played 506 games for the New Jersey Nets (now Brooklyn Nets) (2001–2008, 2009), averaging 14.6 points, 9.1 assists, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game. He recorded 61 triple-doubles. Kidd led the league in assists twice (2003, 2004) and posted a career-best 18.7 PPG in 2002–03. He guided the Nets to back-to-back NBA Finals (2002, 2003) and averaged 19.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 7.2 assists in the 2002 playoffs. A five-time All-Star with the Nets, he earned three All-NBA First Team selections (2002–2004) and four All-Defensive First Team honors (2002–2005).
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the Brooklyn Nets’ all-time leading scorer?
Brook Lopez holds the franchise scoring record with 10,444 points.
Which Nets player recorded the most triple-doubles in franchise history?
Jason Kidd posted a franchise-best 61 triple-doubles in his time with the Nets, leading all Nets players in this category.
Which Brooklyn Nets player has the highest career scoring average?
Kevin Durant set the franchise record for the highest career scoring average, with 29.0 points per game over his Nets career.
How many ABA championships did Julius Erving win with the Nets?
Julius Erving led the Nets to two ABA championships, winning ABA Finals MVP both times and earning three league MVP awards in his tenure
