The Brooklyn Nets have had plenty of great players wear the Nets uniform over the history of the franchise, both in New Jersey and in their current home at Barclays Center. Brooklyn is hoping to put forth a better product for the fanbase next season after one of the worst seasons that the team has seen, but it could be time to note how many greats have played for the organization.
"Scoring comes so easy for him it’s almost ridiculous, as Kevin Durant is a 7-footer with ballhandling, quickness and a pristine jumper that he can hit from legitimately anywhere on the floor," Frank Urbina wrote for HoopsHype when discussing Kevin Durant, the third-best small forward in NBA history. In addition to Durant, the next player also spent time with the Nets
even though he is mostly known for his time with the Philadelphia 76ers.
"He was 26 by the time he made his NBA debut after years in the ABA, so Julius Erving would rank far higher in the statistical categories had he spent his whole career in the Association," Urbina wrote on Erving, affectionately known in NBA circles as Dr. J. Erving played for the Nets when the team was in New York, prior to moving to New Jersey, but there is one more player to mention on this top-20 small forward list.
"Paul Pierce was a beastly scorer in his prime, one who could fill it up from all three levels and score on even the most elite of defenders," Urbina wrote on Paul Pierce, who had already made his name known prior to coming to the Nets. In reference to this list, Durant ranked third, Erving ranked fourth, and Pierce is ranked as the 13th-best small forward in the history of the Association.
Ultimately, the Nets are still in the midst of their rebuild so next season may not pleasant for the fanbase to see given that some of the youngest players still have some growing to do. Regardless of how next season turns out, members of the Nets fanbase will be able to hold on to the fact that some of the greatest small forwards in NBA history played for their team.
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Former Nets Kevin Durant, Julius Erving, Paul Pierce among best SFs
