Fansided

Every NBA team’s worst iteration ever

By Rich Kraetsch

BOSTON - NOVEMBER 20: Guard Chris Herren and coach Rick Pitino's expressions on the bench reflected their loss against the 76ers. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
BOSTON - NOVEMBER 20: Guard Chris Herren and coach Rick Pitino's expressions on the bench reflected their loss against the 76ers. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES – NOVEMBER 29: (L-R) Courtney Lee #6, Bobby Simmons #21, Rafer Alston #1, and Sean Williams #51 of the New Jersey Nets rest on the sidelines during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on November 29, 2009 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers won 106-87. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES – NOVEMBER 29: (L-R) Courtney Lee #6, Bobby Simmons #21, Rafer Alston #1, and Sean Williams #51 of the New Jersey Nets rest on the sidelines during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on November 29, 2009 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers won 106-87. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Brooklyn/New Jersey Nets (2009-10, 12-70, -8.93 SRS)

Picking the most miserable Nets season is no easy take. Any of the recent incarnations of Brooklyn Nets basketball would suffice (and, probably a few more years into the future too). But no Nets team was worse than the 2009-10 version.

Things got off to auspicious start for the then-New Jersey Nets when they traded franchise cornerstone Vince Carter and sharpshooting Ryan Anderson to the Orlando Magic for Rafer “Skip to My Lou” Alston, Courtney Lee and Tony Battie.

There was no sugar-coating it, the deal was designed to help New Jersey lose. And lose they did. After their 16th straight loss of the season, head coach Lawrence Frank was ousted. Two losses later, New Jersey had set the mark for the worst start to a season in NBA history at 0-18 (take that ‘88-89 Miami Heat!)

This Nets team came dangerously close for setting the record for worst season of all-time but thankfully for the New Jersey faithful, a late March win over the San Antonio Spurs gave them 10 wins on the year (Matt Bonner and Malik Hairston played over 26 minutes for the Spurs if you want to get an idea of what they thought of the Nets).

New Jersey finished the season 12-70 becoming only the fifth team in NBA history to lose 70 games in a season joining the 1972–73 Philadelphia 76ers (9–73), 1986–87 Los Angeles Clippers (12–70), 1992–93 Dallas Mavericks (11–71) and 1997–98 Denver Nuggets (11–71).

This was also the final year for the Nets in the Meadowlands Arena/Izod Center as they moved to the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey the following season as they awaited their new home (Barclays Center) in Brooklyn.

The horrid season had Nets fans hoping for the #1 overall pick and a chance to draft Kentucky standout John Wall. Instead, in perfect Nets fashion they got the #3 pick and selected Derrick Favors.

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