Mike O’Koren studied basketball collegiately under Dean Smith at the University of North Carolina, and the New Jersey Nets would draft him 6^th overall in the 1980 Draft.  The Small Forward would average over 11 Points per Game in his first two seasons and would settle in as a reserve player over the next four years until he was traded to Washington.  He would play 392 Games for the Nets, averaging 8.5 Points per Game.

A former SEC Player of the Year, Jan van Breda Kolff played a couple of seasons in the ABA before the team he was with (Kentucky) disbanded, and he was selected by the New Jersey (then New York), which was arriving from the ABA.  His best season was his first with the Nets, where he averaged 10.2 Points per Game.  The former Vanderbilt star would not start much but would play 434 Games for the Nets, predominantly in a reserve role.

Mike Newlin played for the Houston Rockets for 8 seasons before being traded to the New Jersey Nets, where he gained more playing time.  Newlin played for New Jersey for two seasons, during which he posted his highest career Points per Game at 20.9 and 21.4, respectively. Still, his rank is affected because his other numbers were down, and he was more one-dimensional.

A good defensive player over his professional career, P.J. Brown's career began with the New Jersey Nets, where he played his first three seasons in the NBA after trying the Greek League for a season.  The Center from Louisiana Tech likely made the right choice, as the additional season probably helped him land a regular role with the Nets, and he would be a decent defensive player.  Brown averaged 8.4 Points and 6.4 Rebounds per Game as a Net, though his next years would occur after he left with Miami, where he would be a three-time Second Team All-Defensive Selection.