The 1977-78 season marked the New Jersey Nets’ second year in the NBA after transitioning from the ABA. The team struggled, ending the season with a 24-58 record, which placed them last in the Atlantic Division. Under head coach Kevin Loughery, the Nets faced challenges in adjusting to the NBA’s competitive landscape.
Despite the overall disappointing performance, standout player Bernard King offered a silver lining. King, in his rookie season, averaged 24.2 points per game, showcasing his potential as a future star. However, the team’s defensive issues and lack of depth were significant hurdles throughout the season.
The 1977-78 campaign was a period of rebuilding and adaptation for the Nets, as they worked to establish themselves in the NBA. The season highlighted areas needing improvement, setting the stage for future adjustments and growth within the franchise.
- Regular Season Record: 24-58
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
New Jersey Nets Roster and Stats for 1977-78 Season
POINTS
John Williamson
29.5
REBOUNDS
George Johnson
9.6
ASSISTS
Kevin Porter
10.8
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| John Williamson | 33 | 29.5 | 3.2 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bernard King | 79 | 24.2 | 9.5 | 2.4 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Kevin Porter | 74 | 16.1 | 2.7 | 10.8 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Al Skinner | 8 | 15.1 | 6.5 | 4.1 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Darnell Hillman | 45 | 13.1 | 7.5 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Howard Porter | 55 | 12.9 | 4.8 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bubbles Hawkins | 15 | 10.9 | 3.1 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bob Carrington | 37 | 10.4 | 3.0 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Eddie Jordan | 51 | 10.0 | 2.1 | 2.8 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Wilson Washington | 24 | 8.8 | 5.9 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| George Johnson | 81 | 8.7 | 9.6 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Louie Nelson | 25 | 8.5 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bird Averitt | 21 | 8.3 | 1.6 | 3.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mark Crow | 15 | 5.6 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Tim Bassett | 65 | 5.4 | 6.2 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jan van Breda Kolff | 68 | 4.4 | 3.6 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dave Wohl | 10 | 3.5 | 0.4 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Kim Hughes | 56 | 2.2 | 4.3 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
New Jersey Nets 1977-78 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1977-78 season for the New Jersey Nets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 18, 1977 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 110-93 | |
| Oct 21, 1977 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 111-103 | |
| Oct 22, 1977 | @ Buffalo Braves | L 101-96 | |
| Oct 26, 1977 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 113-110 | |
| Oct 28, 1977 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 116-109 | |
| Nov 02, 1977 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 107-102 | |
| Nov 04, 1977 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 107-104 | |
| Nov 05, 1977 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 105-93 | |
| Nov 09, 1977 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 130-107 | |
| Nov 11, 1977 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 91-89 | |
| Nov 12, 1977 | @ New York Knicks | L 101-90 | |
| Nov 16, 1977 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 116-106 | |
| Nov 18, 1977 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 124-116 | |
| Nov 19, 1977 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 129-114 | |
| Nov 20, 1977 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 125-118 | |
| Nov 23, 1977 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 132-119 | |
| Nov 25, 1977 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 129-117 | |
| Nov 26, 1977 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 114-102 | |
| Nov 27, 1977 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 99-96 | |
| Nov 29, 1977 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 110-101 | |
| Dec 02, 1977 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 126-92 | |
| Dec 03, 1977 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 118-115 | |
| Dec 04, 1977 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 134-118 | |
| Dec 07, 1977 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 125-122 | |
| Dec 08, 1977 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 104-78 | |
| Dec 09, 1977 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 122-114 | |
| Dec 11, 1977 | @ Washington Bullets | W 106-95 | |
| Dec 13, 1977 | @ Boston Celtics | L 122-108 | |
| Dec 14, 1977 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 108-104 | |
| Dec 16, 1977 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 116-106 | |
| Dec 21, 1977 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 103-93 | |
| Dec 22, 1977 | @ New Orleans Jazz | L 131-110 | |
| Dec 23, 1977 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 103-102 | |
| Dec 29, 1977 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 109-101 | |
| Jan 04, 1978 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 115-83 | |
| Jan 05, 1978 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 110-94 | |
| Jan 06, 1978 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 110-105 | |
| Jan 08, 1978 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 99-98 | |
| Jan 11, 1978 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 103-92 | |
| Jan 13, 1978 | @ Boston Celtics | L 114-111 | |
| Jan 14, 1978 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 136-120 | |
| Jan 16, 1978 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 120-112 | |
| Jan 17, 1978 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 119-109 | |
| Jan 18, 1978 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 127-101 | |
| Jan 22, 1978 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 105-97 | |
| Jan 26, 1978 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 112-77 | |
| Jan 27, 1978 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 95-90 | |
| Jan 29, 1978 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 131-100 | |
| Jan 31, 1978 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 103-92 | |
| Feb 01, 1978 | @ Houston Rockets | L 124-103 | |
| Feb 03, 1978 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 105-99 | |
| Feb 08, 1978 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 140-138 | |
| Feb 10, 1978 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 117-112 | |
| Feb 12, 1978 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 112-110 | |
| Feb 13, 1978 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 125-115 | |
| Feb 16, 1978 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 101-92 | |
| Feb 17, 1978 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 99-96 | |
| Feb 19, 1978 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 120-110 | |
| Feb 22, 1978 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 94-83 | |
| Feb 24, 1978 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 126-112 | |
| Feb 26, 1978 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 94-92 | |
| Mar 01, 1978 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 97-95 | |
| Mar 04, 1978 | @ Buffalo Braves | L 111-107 | |
| Mar 05, 1978 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 109-103 | |
| Mar 07, 1978 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 129-98 | |
| Mar 08, 1978 | @ Kansas City Kings | W 123-121 | |
| Mar 10, 1978 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 105-99 | |
| Mar 11, 1978 | @ New York Knicks | L 126-117 | |
| Mar 12, 1978 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 130-125 | |
| Mar 15, 1978 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 117-98 | |
| Mar 17, 1978 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 111-109 | |
| Mar 18, 1978 | @ Houston Rockets | W 106-104 | |
| Mar 21, 1978 | @ New Orleans Jazz | L 117-114 | |
| Mar 22, 1978 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 105-99 | |
| Mar 24, 1978 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 107-104 | |
| Mar 26, 1978 | @ Washington Bullets | W 118-104 | |
| Mar 31, 1978 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 122-114 | |
| Apr 02, 1978 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 124-113 | |
| Apr 04, 1978 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 129-121 | |
| Apr 05, 1978 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 129-121 | |
| Apr 07, 1978 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 114-106 | |
| Apr 08, 1978 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 120-109 |