The 1984-85 New Jersey Nets finished the NBA regular season with a 42-40 record, securing the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference. This marked a significant improvement from their previous seasons, as they managed to clinch a playoff berth for the first time since 1983.
Under the leadership of head coach Stan Albeck, the team was driven by the strong performances of key players such as Otis Birdsong, Buck Williams, and Darryl Dawkins. Birdsong led the team in scoring, while Williams was a dominant force on the boards, emphasizing their balanced attack.
In the playoffs, the Nets faced the defending NBA champions, the Philadelphia 76ers, in the first round. Despite being the underdogs, the Nets pulled off a stunning upset in the five-game series, winning 3-2. However, their postseason run ended in the semifinals against the Milwaukee Bucks, where they were defeated 4-2.
- Regular Season Record: 42-40
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 0-3
New Jersey Nets Roster and Stats for 1984-85 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Otis Birdsong | 56 | 20.6 | 2.6 | 4.1 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 19.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Michael Ray Richardson | 82 | 20.1 | 5.6 | 8.2 | 3.0 | 0.3 | 25.2 | 3 | 18.3 | 6.0 | 11.3 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Buck Williams | 82 | 18.2 | 12.3 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 25.0 | 3 | 24.7 | 10.7 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 0.0 |
| Darryl Dawkins | 39 | 13.5 | 4.6 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 3 | 8.3 | 4.7 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 2.0 | 0.0 |
| Mike Gminski | 81 | 12.8 | 7.8 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 3 | 14.0 | 6.3 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 0.0 |
| Albert King | 42 | 12.8 | 3.8 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 3 | 22.0 | 7.7 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 100.0 |
| Ron Brewer | 11 | 10.4 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 3 | 12.0 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mike O'Koren | 43 | 10.2 | 3.9 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 38.1 | 3 | 2.0 | 3.3 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Kelvin Ransey | 81 | 8.9 | 1.6 | 4.4 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 18.2 | 3 | 5.7 | 1.7 | 5.7 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Darwin Cook | 58 | 8.2 | 1.6 | 2.8 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 8.7 | 1 | 6.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jeff Turner | 72 | 5.8 | 3.0 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 3 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Kevin McKenna | 29 | 5.7 | 1.7 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 38.5 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Wayne Sappleton | 33 | 2.9 | 2.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Michael Wilson | 8 | 2.8 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Chris Engler | 7 | 2.7 | 3.9 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| George Johnson | 65 | 1.6 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 100.0 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Tom LaGarde | 1 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
New Jersey Nets in the 1985 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Detroit Pistons
In the 1985 NBA Playoffs, the New Jersey Nets faced the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round. Despite entering as underdogs, the Nets stunned the basketball world by winning the series 3-2, marking their first-ever playoff series victory. Their triumph was highlighted by a crucial Game 5 win in Philadelphia, showcasing standout performances from stars like Buck Williams and Micheal Ray Richardson.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 18, 1985 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 125-105 | |
| Apr 21, 1985 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 121-111 | |
| Apr 24, 1985 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 116-115 |
New Jersey Nets 1984-85 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1984-85 season for the New Jersey Nets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 26, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 119-104 | |
| Oct 27, 1984 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 131-106 | |
| Oct 30, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 118-96 | |
| Oct 31, 1984 | @ Boston Celtics | L 116-105 | |
| Nov 03, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 118-117 | |
| Nov 07, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 99-88 | |
| Nov 09, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 101-99 | |
| Nov 11, 1984 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 121-111 | |
| Nov 13, 1984 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 99-90 | |
| Nov 14, 1984 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 98-86 | |
| Nov 17, 1984 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 131-114 | |
| Nov 18, 1984 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 102-97 | |
| Nov 20, 1984 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 117-107 | |
| Nov 24, 1984 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 101-99 | |
| Nov 28, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 111-96 | |
| Nov 30, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 123-100 | |
| Dec 02, 1984 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 114-112 | |
| Dec 04, 1984 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 112-97 | |
| Dec 05, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 104-93 | |
| Dec 08, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 107-98 | |
| Dec 11, 1984 | @ Boston Celtics | L 130-121 | |
| Dec 12, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 116-109 | |
| Dec 14, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 111-109 | |
| Dec 15, 1984 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 112-100 | |
| Dec 18, 1984 | @ Washington Bullets | L 104-95 | |
| Dec 19, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 115-106 | |
| Dec 21, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 122-116 | |
| Dec 22, 1984 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 107-93 | |
| Dec 25, 1984 | @ New York Knicks | W 120-114 | |
| Dec 26, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 112-97 | |
| Dec 28, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 100-97 | |
| Dec 29, 1984 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 110-108 | |
| Jan 02, 1985 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 110-95 | |
| Jan 04, 1985 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 105-98 | |
| Jan 05, 1985 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 124-114 | |
| Jan 08, 1985 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 107-101 | |
| Jan 11, 1985 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 122-103 | |
| Jan 13, 1985 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 100-99 | |
| Jan 16, 1985 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 100-94 | |
| Jan 18, 1985 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 102-93 | |
| Jan 19, 1985 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 109-107 | |
| Jan 22, 1985 | @ Utah Jazz | L 102-99 | |
| Jan 24, 1985 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 119-110 | |
| Jan 26, 1985 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 103-93 | |
| Jan 28, 1985 | @ Houston Rockets | L 97-93 | |
| Jan 29, 1985 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 130-127 | |
| Jan 31, 1985 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 122-99 | |
| Feb 02, 1985 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 101-96 | |
| Feb 05, 1985 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 119-117 | |
| Feb 06, 1985 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 106-93 | |
| Feb 12, 1985 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 111-103 | |
| Feb 13, 1985 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 112-105 | |
| Feb 15, 1985 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 124-123 | |
| Feb 16, 1985 | @ New York Knicks | W 126-117 | |
| Feb 20, 1985 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 110-104 | |
| Feb 22, 1985 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 131-127 | |
| Feb 23, 1985 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 111-103 | |
| Feb 27, 1985 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 114-91 | |
| Mar 01, 1985 | @ Washington Bullets | W 100-98 | |
| Mar 03, 1985 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 117-113 | |
| Mar 05, 1985 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 134-113 | |
| Mar 06, 1985 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 129-108 | |
| Mar 08, 1985 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 128-110 | |
| Mar 10, 1985 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 126-113 | |
| Mar 12, 1985 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 109-108 | |
| Mar 13, 1985 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 114-109 | |
| Mar 16, 1985 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 127-107 | |
| Mar 17, 1985 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 129-105 | |
| Mar 19, 1985 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 130-111 | |
| Mar 20, 1985 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 128-108 | |
| Mar 22, 1985 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 123-111 | |
| Mar 26, 1985 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 109-108 | |
| Mar 27, 1985 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 105-95 | |
| Mar 29, 1985 | @ Washington Bullets | L 122-98 | |
| Mar 30, 1985 | @ New York Knicks | W 123-114 | |
| Apr 02, 1985 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 108-94 | |
| Apr 03, 1985 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 113-100 | |
| Apr 06, 1985 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 108-104 | |
| Apr 09, 1985 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 114-100 | |
| Apr 10, 1985 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 125-100 | |
| Apr 13, 1985 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 123-111 | |
| Apr 14, 1985 | @ Boston Celtics | W 129-118 |