The 1981-82 New Jersey Nets season marked their sixth year in the NBA. Under head coach Larry Brown, the team showed improvement with a 44-38 record, earning a spot in the playoffs for the first time since joining the league in 1976. This season was pivotal as it was the franchise’s first winning season in the NBA.
The Nets were led by standout performances from players like Buck Williams, who was named NBA Rookie of the Year, and Otis Birdsong, a critical offensive contributor. Despite their regular-season success, the Nets faced challenges in the playoffs, where they were eliminated in the first round by the Washington Bullets, losing the series 2-0.
Overall, the 1981-82 season was a building block for the Nets, setting the foundation for future success and establishing them as a competitive team in the Eastern Conference. The progress made during this season was crucial for the franchise’s development in the NBA.
- Regular Season Record: 44-38
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 0-2
New Jersey Nets Roster and Stats for 1981-82 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Ray Williams | 82 | 20.4 | 3.9 | 5.9 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 26.5 | 2 | 17.0 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 40.0 |
| Buck Williams | 82 | 15.5 | 12.2 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 2 | 17.5 | 10.5 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Otis Birdsong | 37 | 14.2 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Albert King | 76 | 12.1 | 4.0 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 27.3 | 2 | 20.0 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Mike Woodson | 7 | 11.9 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mike O'Koren | 80 | 11.4 | 3.7 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 57.1 | 2 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Darwin Cook | 82 | 11.0 | 1.9 | 3.9 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 35.0 | 2 | 14.0 | 1.5 | 4.5 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Len Elmore | 81 | 9.1 | 5.3 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 2 | 11.0 | 8.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| James Bailey | 67 | 8.9 | 5.0 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 2 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Foots Walker | 77 | 5.9 | 1.9 | 5.1 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 42.9 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mike Gminski | 64 | 5.2 | 2.8 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 1 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ray Tolbert | 12 | 3.7 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jan van Breda Kolff | 41 | 3.5 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 2 | 0.0 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Sam Lacey | 55 | 2.8 | 1.9 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| David Burns | 3 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Joe Cooper | 1 | 2.0 | 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 1982 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. New Jersey Nets
In the 1982 NBA Playoffs, the New Jersey Nets faced a formidable challenge in the first round against the Washington Bullets. Despite a strong effort, the Nets were unable to advance, losing the best-of-three series 2-0. This marked their second consecutive first-round exit in the playoffs, highlighting the team's struggles to compete in the postseason during that era.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 20, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 96-83 | |
| Apr 23, 1982 | @ Washington Bullets | L 103-92 |
New Jersey Nets 1981-82 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1981-82 season for the New Jersey Nets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 30, 1981 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 103-99 | |
| Nov 04, 1981 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 95-86 | |
| Nov 05, 1981 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 109-103 | |
| Nov 07, 1981 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 118-105 | |
| Nov 08, 1981 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 89-86 | |
| Nov 10, 1981 | @ New York Knicks | L 111-99 | |
| Nov 11, 1981 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 100-88 | |
| Nov 13, 1981 | @ Boston Celtics | L 111-97 | |
| Nov 14, 1981 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 103-92 | |
| Nov 18, 1981 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 121-107 | |
| Nov 20, 1981 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 106-86 | |
| Nov 22, 1981 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 109-92 | |
| Nov 24, 1981 | @ Houston Rockets | W 102-84 | |
| Nov 27, 1981 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 114-86 | |
| Nov 28, 1981 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 111-107 | |
| Dec 02, 1981 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 125-106 | |
| Dec 05, 1981 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 114-105 | |
| Dec 08, 1981 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 98-88 | |
| Dec 09, 1981 | @ Boston Celtics | L 109-100 | |
| Dec 11, 1981 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 131-123 | |
| Dec 12, 1981 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 101-88 | |
| Dec 16, 1981 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 98-97 | |
| Dec 18, 1981 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 100-88 | |
| Dec 19, 1981 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 119-107 | |
| Dec 23, 1981 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 115-99 | |
| Dec 25, 1981 | @ New York Knicks | W 96-95 | |
| Dec 26, 1981 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 105-90 | |
| Dec 28, 1981 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 103-95 | |
| Dec 30, 1981 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 130-119 | |
| Jan 02, 1982 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 97-95 | |
| Jan 05, 1982 | @ Washington Bullets | W 114-108 | |
| Jan 06, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 109-95 | |
| Jan 08, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 110-100 | |
| Jan 09, 1982 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 120-113 | |
| Jan 11, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 112-94 | |
| Jan 14, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 130-104 | |
| Jan 15, 1982 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 114-104 | |
| Jan 17, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 105-97 | |
| Jan 20, 1982 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 132-113 | |
| Jan 22, 1982 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 99-97 | |
| Jan 23, 1982 | @ San Diego Clippers | W 113-109 | |
| Jan 26, 1982 | @ Utah Jazz | W 138-129 | |
| Jan 27, 1982 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 130-116 | |
| Feb 02, 1982 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 116-112 | |
| Feb 03, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 112-103 | |
| Feb 05, 1982 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 116-112 | |
| Feb 06, 1982 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 125-120 | |
| Feb 07, 1982 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 110-94 | |
| Feb 10, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 115-108 | |
| Feb 12, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 109-98 | |
| Feb 14, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 111-109 | |
| Feb 17, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 115-105 | |
| Feb 19, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 103-96 | |
| Feb 20, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 125-108 | |
| Feb 21, 1982 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 118-107 | |
| Feb 24, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 113-106 | |
| Feb 26, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 110-106 | |
| Feb 28, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 110-95 | |
| Mar 02, 1982 | @ Washington Bullets | W 130-124 | |
| Mar 03, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 111-103 | |
| Mar 05, 1982 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 107-90 | |
| Mar 06, 1982 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 112-92 | |
| Mar 10, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 113-105 | |
| Mar 12, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 113-109 | |
| Mar 14, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 98-97 | |
| Mar 17, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 93-90 | |
| Mar 20, 1982 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 104-101 | |
| Mar 21, 1982 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 102-86 | |
| Mar 24, 1982 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 111-106 | |
| Mar 26, 1982 | @ Washington Bullets | L 104-88 | |
| Mar 27, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 123-121 | |
| Mar 28, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 113-106 | |
| Mar 31, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 103-87 | |
| Apr 02, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 98-96 | |
| Apr 04, 1982 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 119-109 | |
| Apr 07, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 116-113 | |
| Apr 09, 1982 | @ Boston Celtics | L 106-103 | |
| Apr 10, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 115-86 | |
| Apr 13, 1982 | @ New York Knicks | W 104-102 | |
| Apr 14, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 98-94 | |
| Apr 16, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 113-96 | |
| Apr 17, 1982 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 147-132 |