How the Nets wasted a prime championship opportunity, then fell apart and left the state | Collapse

In the mid-2000s, the NBA's Western Conference faltered a bit, allowing for the Eastern Conference to swoop in and win a couple championships. Heading into that mini era, anyone would have picked the New Jersey Nets to snatch at least one of those trophies. But instead of seizing the throne, the Nets followed back-to-back Finals visits with disaster: heartbreaking playoff defeats, payroll cuts, injuries, bad luck, and an eventual departure for Brooklyn.

This is how the New Jersey Nets collapsed.

Written and produced by Seth Rosenthal
Directed by Mike Imhoff
Motion graphics by Philip Pasternak and Mike Das
Shot and edited by Alex Hawley

[kevinhorry]

I swear everytime i watch a documentary about a 2000’s team, Mutombo is in that team 🤣

[strongside]

Moral of the story: Scal is so good that he dropped 17 on one of the best defensive teams ever while coming off the bench.

[manuginobilisbaldspot]

It's the Nets. The fact that Jason Kidd led the NEW JERSEY NETS to back to back NBA Finals alone makes him a first ballot Hall of Famer.

[joeburreaux]

“Benchwarmer Brian Scalabrine” Don’t ever disrespect the GOAT like that

[bmcminn]

Kidd in his prime with that Spurs team would've been insane

[sandernista]

Jason Kidd is low key underrated. His stats dont pop out at you, but his impact was greater than his numbers.

[Seahawkfan]

3 things i learned watching this....


*Kidd almost pulled off a Kevin Durant move during free agency*
*Mutumbo was a Net?!*
*Alonzo was also a Net?!*

[TheWacoKid]

Buying a copy machine sounds like something out of semi pro

[LateDude]

Vince Carter is still in the NBA. Think about that while watching this video.

[Hoosier]

The 2012-2014 Pacers teams would be a really good topic for this series. Went from battling with the Heat to eventually losing all 5 starters a few years later

[maddybutyoutube]

as a nets fan, i know im gonna suffer watch this, but i do it to support sb nation.

[ritvikdutta]

Man Kidd was awesome in his prime. Also, Kenyon Martin is super underrated.

[tsalv]

Collapse is such an awesome series. Very interesting how teams with so much promise fall apart before even reaching their peak

[TrillWillieTCG]

2003 nets were my favorite team as a kid and truly made me start loving basketball. That era was a great era of basketball

[nathaniellevesque]

6:53 sounds like we got a sneak peak at a future beef history video.

[codemonkey]

Kidd was such a great superstar PG for that team. But once they lost Kenyon Martin - who I will always believe was the soul of those Nets teams - they were done. That was the one guy they needed to retain.

[JackDanger]

Here‘s some food for thought: Can we trace the Mavs‘ 2011 championship to Kidd‘s 2003 decision? Because I don‘t think he ever would have returned to the Mavs had he signed with the Spurs back then.

[tonyasiema]

The term “future all star Kyle Korver” is really weird

[Ryandupont]

9:06 "Their replacements were absolute ass"

I just died

[Timjblackley]

SB Nation, I think you just found your next great show