The 1983-84 New Jersey Nets season marked an important chapter in the franchise’s history as they made a significant playoff run. Under the guidance of head coach Stan Albeck, the Nets finished the regular season with a 45-37 record, securing the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. The team showcased robust defensive play and a balanced offensive attack, featuring key contributions from players such as Otis Birdsong and Buck Williams.
In the playoffs, the Nets achieved a milestone by securing their first-ever playoff series victory. They defeated the Philadelphia 76ers, the defending NBA champions, in a thrilling five-game series. However, their playoff journey ended in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, where they were eliminated by the Milwaukee Bucks in six games. Despite the exit, the season was seen as a success and a stepping stone for future endeavors, highlighting the team’s potential in the competitive landscape of the NBA.
- Regular Season Record: 45-37
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 3-2, Eastern Conference Semifinals: 2-4
New Jersey Nets Roster and Stats for 1983-84 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Otis Birdsong | 69 | 19.8 | 2.5 | 3.9 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 25.0 | 11 | 15.2 | 2.4 | 3.7 | 1.8 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| Darryl Dawkins | 81 | 16.8 | 6.7 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 40.0 | 11 | 18.4 | 6.2 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.0 |
| Buck Williams | 81 | 15.7 | 12.3 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 11 | 15.5 | 14.1 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 0.0 |
| Albert King | 79 | 14.7 | 4.9 | 2.6 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 13.6 | 11 | 12.5 | 5.3 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Michael Ray Richardson | 48 | 12.0 | 3.6 | 4.5 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 24.1 | 11 | 16.8 | 4.9 | 7.2 | 3.1 | 0.4 | 27.3 |
| Kelvin Ransey | 80 | 9.5 | 1.6 | 6.0 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 21.9 | 5 | 2.6 | 0.2 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 100.0 |
| Darwin Cook | 82 | 8.7 | 1.9 | 4.3 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 23.9 | 11 | 7.4 | 1.6 | 2.8 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 30.8 |
| Mike Gminski | 82 | 7.6 | 5.3 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 11 | 8.5 | 5.0 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 0.0 |
| Mike O'Koren | 73 | 5.9 | 2.4 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 17.9 | 11 | 5.0 | 3.2 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Reggie Johnson | 72 | 4.8 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| Bill Willoughby | 67 | 4.5 | 2.9 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 3 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Foots Walker | 34 | 2.6 | 0.9 | 2.4 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 40.0 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bruce Kuczenski | 7 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mark Jones | 6 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
New Jersey Nets in the 1984 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Philadelphia 76ers
In the 1984 NBA Playoffs, the New Jersey Nets made history by winning their first-ever playoff series as an NBA team, defeating the defending champion Philadelphia 76ers in a stunning first-round upset. The Nets clinched the series 3-2, with key performances from Buck Williams and Micheal Ray Richardson, showcasing their resilience and ability to compete against top-tier opponents. This victory marked a significant achievement for the franchise, highlighting their potential in the competitive Eastern Conference.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 18, 1984 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 116-101 | |
| Apr 20, 1984 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 116-102 | |
| Apr 22, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 108-100 | |
| Apr 24, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 110-102 | |
| Apr 26, 1984 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 101-98 |
Playoffs Second Round vs. Milwaukee Bucks
In the 1984 NBA Playoffs, the New Jersey Nets made a surprising run to the second round for the first time in franchise history, having upset the defending champion Philadelphia 76ers in the opening round. However, their postseason journey came to an end when they faced the Milwaukee Bucks, losing the series 4-2. This marked a significant milestone for the Nets, as they demonstrated potential and resilience despite ultimately falling short against a strong Bucks team.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 29, 1984 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 106-100 | |
| May 01, 1984 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 98-94 | |
| May 03, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 100-93 | |
| May 05, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 106-99 | |
| May 08, 1984 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 94-82 | |
| May 10, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 98-97 |
New Jersey Nets 1983-84 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1983-84 season for the New Jersey Nets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 28, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 126-108 | |
| Oct 29, 1983 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 104-97 | |
| Nov 01, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 125-113 | |
| Nov 03, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 112-107 | |
| Nov 05, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 119-112 | |
| Nov 09, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 127-110 | |
| Nov 11, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 107-103 | |
| Nov 12, 1983 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 111-101 | |
| Nov 15, 1983 | @ Houston Rockets | W 104-86 | |
| Nov 17, 1983 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 115-113 | |
| Nov 19, 1983 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 109-100 | |
| Nov 23, 1983 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 110-108 | |
| Nov 25, 1983 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 147-123 | |
| Nov 26, 1983 | @ San Diego Clippers | W 104-102 | |
| Nov 30, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 113-104 | |
| Dec 02, 1983 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 122-107 | |
| Dec 03, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 128-122 | |
| Dec 06, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 114-105 | |
| Dec 09, 1983 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 100-93 | |
| Dec 11, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 141-130 | |
| Dec 13, 1983 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 133-122 | |
| Dec 15, 1983 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 118-105 | |
| Dec 16, 1983 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 110-106 | |
| Dec 18, 1983 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 122-118 | |
| Dec 20, 1983 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 98-87 | |
| Dec 22, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 101-98 | |
| Dec 23, 1983 | @ Boston Celtics | L 125-113 | |
| Dec 25, 1983 | @ New York Knicks | L 112-110 | |
| Dec 27, 1983 | @ Washington Bullets | L 116-106 | |
| Dec 28, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 89-85 | |
| Dec 30, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 118-106 | |
| Jan 03, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 105-103 | |
| Jan 04, 1984 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 91-88 | |
| Jan 06, 1984 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 108-104 | |
| Jan 07, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 108-104 | |
| Jan 09, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 107-103 | |
| Jan 11, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 120-105 | |
| Jan 13, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 114-111 | |
| Jan 15, 1984 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 140-134 | |
| Jan 17, 1984 | @ New York Knicks | W 121-115 | |
| Jan 18, 1984 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 124-115 | |
| Jan 21, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 120-103 | |
| Jan 24, 1984 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 113-104 | |
| Jan 26, 1984 | @ Utah Jazz | L 125-115 | |
| Feb 01, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 111-106 | |
| Feb 03, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 114-112 | |
| Feb 04, 1984 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 108-105 | |
| Feb 06, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 115-112 | |
| Feb 07, 1984 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 109-102 | |
| Feb 08, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 114-110 | |
| Feb 12, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 107-103 | |
| Feb 14, 1984 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 103-93 | |
| Feb 15, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 114-108 | |
| Feb 17, 1984 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 114-109 | |
| Feb 18, 1984 | @ New York Knicks | L 112-102 | |
| Feb 21, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 119-116 | |
| Feb 23, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 110-103 | |
| Feb 25, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 117-104 | |
| Feb 29, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 102-92 | |
| Mar 03, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 100-90 | |
| Mar 05, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 120-116 | |
| Mar 07, 1984 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 106-100 | |
| Mar 09, 1984 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 122-118 | |
| Mar 11, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 106-105 | |
| Mar 14, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 108-102 | |
| Mar 16, 1984 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 117-108 | |
| Mar 17, 1984 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 100-98 | |
| Mar 20, 1984 | @ Washington Bullets | L 99-91 | |
| Mar 21, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 102-95 | |
| Mar 23, 1984 | @ Boston Celtics | W 101-97 | |
| Mar 25, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 107-94 | |
| Mar 27, 1984 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 106-103 | |
| Mar 29, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 118-116 | |
| Mar 31, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 107-98 | |
| Apr 03, 1984 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 109-92 | |
| Apr 04, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 112-111 | |
| Apr 07, 1984 | @ Washington Bullets | W 121-98 | |
| Apr 08, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 124-97 | |
| Apr 10, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 106-102 | |
| Apr 11, 1984 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 129-112 | |
| Apr 13, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 118-112 | |
| Apr 15, 1984 | @ Boston Celtics | L 118-111 |