[1] Without Kenyon Martin, who was traded to the Denver Nuggets in the offseason, the Nets stumbled out of the gate losing 11 of their first 13 games including a nine-game losing streak, as Jason Kidd missed the first month of the season from offseason knee surgery.
Richard Jefferson spent most of the season on injured reserve due to a wrist injury.
The Kidd and Carter duo-led Nets won 10 of their final 12 games to finished with a 42–40 record, winning a tie-breaker for the #8 seed in the Eastern Conference over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
In the first round of the playoffs, New Jersey faced the top-seeded Miami Heat, led by Shaquille O'Neal and a young Dwyane Wade.
Following the season, Brian Scalabrine signed as the free agent with the Boston Celtics.