The Brooklyn Nets have had their share of memorable small forwards, and the list of the best runs through a mix of scoring, versatility, and championship moments.
Bernard King made an immediate impact in his first two seasons with the Nets. As a rookie, he averaged 24.2 points per game and set a franchise record with 1,909 points in a season. That kind of production announced him as one of the franchise’s most dangerous scorers right away.
Rick Barry brought a different kind of star power to the New York Nets in the ABA. He spent two seasons with the team and put up 30.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game across 139 games. Barry also helped the Nets reach the ABA Finals in 1972, where they lost to the Indiana Pacers in six games.
Richard Jefferson never quite got the All-Star nod some thought he deserved with the New Jersey Nets, but his value showed up in the bigger moments. He was a key part of teams that reached the NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003, and he also contributed to other playoff teams during that decade. His ability to defend multiple spots and attack the rim made him a clean fit alongside Jason Kidd and Vince Carter.
Kevin Durant stands alone when it comes to pure talent in a Nets uniform. He played 129 games for Brooklyn, and the team never got past the second round while he was there, with injuries and other factors playing a major role.
Still, his 2021 Eastern Conference semifinals performance against the Milwaukee Bucks is the one Nets fans won’t forget anytime soon. Durant delivered a 49-point triple double in Game 5 and followed it with 48 points in Game 7, even though Brooklyn ultimately fell to the eventual champions.
Then there’s Julius Erving, who turned the Nets’ ABA years into must-watch basketball. He won ABA MVP in all three of his seasons with the franchise and helped Brooklyn capture ABA titles in 1974 and 1976, earning playoff MVP honors both times. Beyond the numbers and the trophies, Erving’s hangtime and grace in the air made him a basketball icon and helped inspire generations of dunkers, including Michael Jordan.
In Other News...
Nets Face A Michael Porter Jr. Contract Decision With Real Stakes
Michael Porter Jr.'s future has quickly become one of the more interesting contract watches around Brooklyn. After a strong 2025-26 season, he is eligible for an extension before the 2026-27 NBA season, and the Nets have every reason to weigh the timing carefully as they try to map out the next phase of the roster.
For now, though, there has been no reported extension or contract restructure, which keeps the situation unsettled heading into next season. Porter could wind up playing on an expiring deal, and the uncertainty around whether Brooklyn will lock him in now or let the negotiations stretch further only adds another layer to a decision with real stakes. [Read more 🡒]
Nets Still Have One Roster Question Hanging Over This Offseason
The Nets have done a good amount of their summer work already, adding Mikel Brown Jr., Joshua Jefferson and Tyler Bilodeau in the draft, swinging the deal for Julius Randle and bringing back or signing several other players. On paper, the roster is full, and the market around Brooklyn has settled into something quieter than the churn that defined parts of the offseason.
Still, there is one obvious question hanging over the final weeks before camp: whether the front office is truly done. There have been whispers about possible moves, including the idea of dealing Terance Mann or adding another center, but nothing has surfaced to suggest a transaction is imminent, leaving the Nets in a holding pattern with a complete roster and a little more uncertainty than they may prefer. [Read more 🡒]