| 1968–69 New York Nets season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Max Zaslofsky | ||
| Arena | Long Island Arena | ||
| Results | |||
| Record | 17–61 (.218) | ||
| Place | Division: 5th (Eastern (ABA)) | ||
| Playoff finish | Did not qualify | ||
Stats atBasketball Reference | |||
| Radio | WBAB | ||
| |||
The1968–69 New York Nets season was the first season of the Nets playing in New York and second overall season in theAmerican Basketball Association (ABA). Afterone year in New Jersey as theNew Jersey Americans, the team elected to play their games at Commack Arena in New York, the same place that they had tried to use for their one-game playoff against theKentucky Colonels that they forfeited due to unplayable conditions. Low attendance plagued the team at times, with the October 29 game drawing only 384 people to see the Nets play theDenver Rockets. Only 249 attended the game played onDecember 25, 1968, which was also against the Rockets. The December 27 game was notable for a collision betweenKen Wilburn andRick Barry that cost Barry the rest of his season for theOakland Oaks due to injury (though the Oaks would win the1969 ABA Finals Championship despite Barry's injury). Factors for the low attendance ranged from a lack of star power to the conditioning of the court, which was over the hockey rink that was involved with the venue due to the Arena doubling as a hockey arena as well.[1] Their 17–61 record would be the worst record in ABA history at the time (in terms of win percentage) until the1974–75 Virginia Squires season broke that record.
| Player | School/Club team |
|---|---|
| Dick Cunningham | Murray State |
| Rodney Knowles | Davidson |
| Don Smith | Iowa State |
| Steve Adelman | Boston College |
| Eddie Biedenbach | North Carolina State |
| Ron Gruziak | Duquesne |
| Pete ODea | St. Peter's |
| Bill Soens | Miami (FL) |
| Bill Butler | St. Bonaventure |
| John Chamberlain | C. W. Post |
| Tony Koski | Providence |
| Bill Langheld | Fordham |
| Art Stephenson | Rhode Island |
| Harry Laurie | St. Peter's |
This draft would be the last draft the New York Nets would operate as their original New Jersey Americans team name.
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| Head coach Legend
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The Nets did not qualify for the playoffs this year. This would be the second straight season they would fail to quality for the ABA Playoffs after previously missing it via forced forfeiture on a one-game playoff match against theKentucky Colonels.
