The 1982-83 New Jersey Nets season marked a significant improvement for the franchise. Under head coach Larry Brown, the team finished with a 49-33 record, securing third place in the Atlantic Division. This performance was a substantial leap from their previous seasons, as they clinched a spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
The Nets were led by standout performances from players like Buck Williams, who was instrumental in both scoring and rebounding, and Otis Birdsong, who provided offensive firepower. Despite their regular season success, the Nets faced a challenging playoff run. They were eliminated in the first round by the New York Knicks in a tough three-game series. Despite the early exit, the season was a stepping stone, laying the foundation for the team’s future competitiveness in the NBA.
- Regular Season Record: 49-33
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 0-2
New Jersey Nets Roster and Stats for 1982-83 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Albert King | 79 | 17.0 | 5.8 | 3.7 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 31.6 | 2 | 21.0 | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 50.0 |
| Buck Williams | 82 | 17.0 | 12.5 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 2 | 19.0 | 11.5 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Otis Birdsong | 62 | 15.1 | 2.4 | 3.9 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 33.4 | 2 | 6.5 | 1.0 | 4.5 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mickey Johnson | 42 | 13.4 | 5.3 | 3.4 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 14.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Darwin Cook | 82 | 13.2 | 2.9 | 5.5 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 22.2 | 2 | 10.0 | 3.0 | 5.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Michael Ray Richardson | 31 | 12.7 | 4.8 | 6.0 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 21.0 | 2 | 9.5 | 4.0 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Darryl Dawkins | 81 | 12.0 | 5.1 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 2 | 18.0 | 5.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 0.0 |
| Mike Gminski | 80 | 7.5 | 4.8 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 2 | 7.5 | 4.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 |
| Phil Ford | 7 | 6.7 | 1.0 | 5.4 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mike O'Koren | 46 | 6.7 | 2.5 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 25.0 | 2 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Sleepy Floyd | 43 | 5.3 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 33.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Foots Walker | 79 | 4.4 | 1.7 | 3.3 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 16.7 | 2 | 3.5 | 0.0 | 5.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Len Elmore | 74 | 3.4 | 3.2 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 2 | 2.5 | 4.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| James Bailey | 6 | 3.3 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Eddie Phillips | 48 | 3.2 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 2 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bill Willoughby | 10 | 2.4 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jan van Breda Kolff | 13 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
New Jersey Nets in the 1983 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. New Jersey Nets
In the 1983 NBA Playoffs, the New Jersey Nets faced the defending champions, the Philadelphia 76ers, in the first round. Despite putting up a fight, the Nets were swept 2-0 in the best-of-three series, struggling to match the intensity and depth of a Sixers team led by Julius Erving and Moses Malone. This series highlighted the gap between the Nets and the league's elite, underscoring the improvements needed for New Jersey to contend in the future.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 20, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 118-107 | |
| Apr 21, 1983 | @ New York Knicks | L 105-99 |
New Jersey Nets 1982-83 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1982-83 season for the New Jersey Nets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 29, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 114-102 | |
| Oct 30, 1982 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 110-99 | |
| Nov 02, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 110-100 | |
| Nov 03, 1982 | @ Washington Bullets | L 104-85 | |
| Nov 05, 1982 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 99-91 | |
| Nov 07, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 102-100 | |
| Nov 09, 1982 | @ New York Knicks | W 84-82 | |
| Nov 10, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 99-90 | |
| Nov 12, 1982 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 113-105 | |
| Nov 13, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 110-100 | |
| Nov 17, 1982 | @ Utah Jazz | L 101-97 | |
| Nov 19, 1982 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 118-108 | |
| Nov 21, 1982 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 111-91 | |
| Nov 23, 1982 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 110-103 | |
| Nov 24, 1982 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 114-109 | |
| Nov 26, 1982 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 110-99 | |
| Nov 30, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 112-103 | |
| Dec 01, 1982 | @ Washington Bullets | W 105-99 | |
| Dec 03, 1982 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 107-99 | |
| Dec 05, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 108-103 | |
| Dec 08, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 98-95 | |
| Dec 10, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 114-102 | |
| Dec 15, 1982 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 119-118 | |
| Dec 17, 1982 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 117-106 | |
| Dec 18, 1982 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 123-114 | |
| Dec 21, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 102-97 | |
| Dec 23, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 97-90 | |
| Dec 25, 1982 | @ New York Knicks | W 112-110 | |
| Dec 27, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 94-82 | |
| Dec 29, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 104-99 | |
| Jan 01, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 111-105 | |
| Jan 04, 1983 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 102-95 | |
| Jan 06, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 94-93 | |
| Jan 07, 1983 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 111-98 | |
| Jan 09, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 110-102 | |
| Jan 11, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 110-96 | |
| Jan 12, 1983 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 120-114 | |
| Jan 14, 1983 | @ Boston Celtics | L 133-108 | |
| Jan 15, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 100-96 | |
| Jan 17, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 102-96 | |
| Jan 21, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 105-99 | |
| Jan 23, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 105-102 | |
| Jan 25, 1983 | @ Houston Rockets | L 114-111 | |
| Jan 28, 1983 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 115-110 | |
| Jan 29, 1983 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 120-109 | |
| Feb 01, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 120-111 | |
| Feb 02, 1983 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 118-105 | |
| Feb 04, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 120-98 | |
| Feb 05, 1983 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 111-101 | |
| Feb 08, 1983 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 115-109 | |
| Feb 09, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 105-90 | |
| Feb 17, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 117-108 | |
| Feb 20, 1983 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 109-108 | |
| Feb 22, 1983 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 110-108 | |
| Feb 23, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 119-86 | |
| Feb 25, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 115-107 | |
| Feb 26, 1983 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 95-88 | |
| Mar 02, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 124-85 | |
| Mar 04, 1983 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 124-119 | |
| Mar 06, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 112-106 | |
| Mar 07, 1983 | @ Boston Celtics | L 121-114 | |
| Mar 09, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 103-92 | |
| Mar 11, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 98-93 | |
| Mar 13, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 109-94 | |
| Mar 15, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 109-90 | |
| Mar 16, 1983 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 96-90 | |
| Mar 18, 1983 | @ Boston Celtics | L 116-103 | |
| Mar 20, 1983 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 107-92 | |
| Mar 23, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 124-104 | |
| Mar 25, 1983 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 101-92 | |
| Mar 26, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 102-81 | |
| Mar 30, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 100-97 | |
| Apr 01, 1983 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 111-104 | |
| Apr 02, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 105-103 | |
| Apr 05, 1983 | @ Washington Bullets | L 95-89 | |
| Apr 06, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 121-110 | |
| Apr 08, 1983 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 102-92 | |
| Apr 09, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 115-105 | |
| Apr 12, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 99-93 | |
| Apr 13, 1983 | @ New York Knicks | L 108-100 | |
| Apr 15, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 100-98 | |
| Apr 17, 1983 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 112-99 |