The Brooklyn Nets have 52 jersey numbers worn by over 600 different players over the course of their history since the franchise was founded in 1967 as a charter member of the American Basketball Association (ABA), when the team was known as the "New Jersey Americans".
Since then, that league has been absorbed by the NBA with the team that would later become the New York Nets and New Jersey Nets before settling on the name by which they are known today, bringing their rich player and jersey history with them to the league of today.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementTo commemorate the players who played for the Nets over the decades wearing those 52 different jersey numbers, Nets Wire is covering the entire history of the franchise's jersey numbers and the players who sported them since the founding of the team.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - NOVEMBER 03: A detail of Ben Simmons #10 of the Brooklyn Nets jersey against the Chicago Bulls in the first half of the NBA In-Season Tournament at the United Center on November 03, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. 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. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)And for today's article, we will continue with the first of six people to wear the No. 32 jersey, forward alum Johnny Mathis. After ending his college career at Savannah State University, Mathis went unselected in the 1964 NBA Draft, instead signing with the ABA's (then) New Jersey Americans (now, Brooklyn Nets) instead in 1967.
His stay with the team would span a single season, coming to an end when he left the ABA to play in another domestic league.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDuring his time suiting up for the Americans, Mathis wore only jersey No. 32 and put up 3.4 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.
All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets jersey history No. 32 - Johnny Mathis (1967-68)
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