What History Has In Store For The Resurgent Milwaukee Bucks
By Adam McGee
Jan 10, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks president
Phil Jacksonaddresses the media before the start of game against the Charlotte Hornets at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
New Jersey Nets: 1978-79
Good news for Knicks fans: Phil Jackson has been involved in a single season turnaround from league’s worst to Playoffs before, and it just happened to be with the team who used to be located across the bay.
When the ABA and NBA merged, the then New Jersey Nets entered the association as a powerhouse. It wouldn’t last long though, as financial difficulties and the departure of Julius “Dr J” Erving to the Philadelphia 76ers did little to help their cause.
The Nets bounced back from a 24 win season in 1977-78 to make the post-season the following year, in large part thanks to the emergence of a young Bernard King who averaged a whopping 21.6 points per game.
In the franchise’s infinite judgement (a trait that clearly seems to have accompanied them across the river to Brooklyn), the Nets then decided to trade King away to the Utah Jazz though.
This led to the Nets falling back into the abyss in 1979-80, and in fact they would only make the post-season a handful of times over the next 20 years or so.
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