The Brooklyn Nets have never had an MVP winner in franchise history, but they’ve had their share of players who made a strong case.
Jason Kidd was the first one who really forced the conversation. In his first season in the Meadowlands, he helped turn a 26-win New Jersey team into a 52-win one, finishing second to Tim Duncan in the MVP race.
Plenty of people believed Kidd deserved more than that, and it wasn’t hard to see why. He had taken a team that had been a laughingstock and pushed it into title-contender territory almost immediately, all without a true alpha beside him.
That run kept rolling into the playoffs, too, with New Jersey reaching the Finals that season and the one after.
Vince Carter had his own MVP-level stretch once he got to New Jersey. In his first season with the Nets, he was arguably the best player in the league.
He also picked up MVP votes after helping the team get to the playoffs with a 42-40 record, a huge jump from being more than 10 games under .500. The problem was the baggage from Toronto.
Carter was accused of tanking his performance and quitting on the Raptors right before joining the Garden State, and that cloud kept him from fully cashing in on how good he was.
James Harden gave the Nets another player who looked like he could have climbed all the way to MVP status. He fit smoothly alongside Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, scored with far more efficiency, and took on the role of lead playmaker.
His scoring average dipped, but the Nets may have unlocked the best version of Harden - the version where he could run an offense without carrying the full burden of being the top scoring option. If not for the hamstring injury, there’s a real chance he could’ve been in the MVP mix.
Irving, meanwhile, was pure theater. He averaged over 25 points per game on 50/40/90 shooting splits and seemed to break social media every night with his crossover and finishing.
His unannounced absence in January hurt his MVP case, but the production was there. The Nets were getting MVP-level play from Uncle Drew.
Durant rounded out the list. He put up nearly 30 points per game and kept a Nets team in contention even with Harden checked out and Irving in and out of the lineup. Durant was limited to 55 games, but when he played, he was arguably the greatest player in the NBA at the time.
In Other News...
Nets Fans Have One Big Reason To Watch Mikel Brown Jr
Brooklyn fans getting ready for the first look at Mikel Brown Jr. have a real reason to keep him on their radar. The rookie guard, taken sixth overall in the 2026 NBA Draft, is heading into his first training camp with a reputation that already stretches beyond his age, and part of that comes from the work he has done away from the floor as much as on it. Former NBA point guard Rajon Rondo has been helping guide Brown through film study and the finer points of reading the game, a valuable head start for a young guard stepping into the league.
Brown arrives after one season at Louisville, where he showed he could carry a major offensive load while also running an offense. He also had to fight through a back injury that limited his college season, which makes his camp debut even more worth watching for the Nets as they learn what kind of shape and rhythm he brings to Brooklyn. The talent is obvious, but the bigger question now is how quickly that skill set translates once the pace, pressure and detail of the NBA start piling up. [Read more 🡒]
Egor Dmin Might Be Ready For The Nets Leap Fans Need
Egor Dmins rookie season offered enough glimpses to make Brooklyn pay attention, but his Summer League run added a more compelling layer to the conversation. He looked more assertive there, averaging 21 points per game and playing with a sharper edge than he had before, the kind of growth that usually gets a front office and coaching staff thinking about what comes next.
He has also spent the offseason adding physical strength, a move that should matter when the games get tighter and the contact gets heavier. Summer League success does not promise a regular-season breakout, of course, but Dmin appears to be trending toward the kind of second-year leap the Nets could use if his more aggressive approach carries over. [Read more 🡒]
Julius Randle Already Sounds Invested In The Nets New Direction
Julius Randles arrival in Brooklyn is one of the clearest signs yet that the Nets are trying to reset the tone around the franchise. After moving on from Nicolas Claxton in the 2026 offseason, the team brought in the veteran forward with an eye toward adding experience, stability and a little more edge to a roster that wants to be taken seriously again.
Randle has already sounded comfortable in his new setting, speaking positively about his time with the Nets and the way he has connected with the community. For a team looking to climb back into contention, that kind of buy-in matters almost as much as production, and Brooklyn is hoping Randle can help set the standard as the Nets try to become more competitive with a new cast around him. [Read more 🡒]