1982 New Jersey Nets Preseason Press Conference

[RPF]

Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for joining us here today at the Meadowlands. As you all know, the past season was… challenging for the New Jersey Nets. A 30-52 record is not what we aspire to, and it certainly doesn't meet the expectations of our loyal fans. However, within that adversity, we believe we have laid the groundwork for a brighter future.

Today marks an exciting new chapter for this organization. We entered the NBA Draft Lottery with hope, and we were fortunate enough to secure the third overall pick. After careful consideration and extensive scouting, we are thrilled to introduce the newest member of the New Jersey Nets family.

Please welcome Lafayette "Fat" Lever, a dynamic point guard from Arizona State University. We believe Fat possesses a unique blend of athleticism, court vision, and leadership that will be invaluable to our team. He is a proven winner, and we are confident he will be a cornerstone of our future success.

I’d also like to address the health of our small forward, Cliff Robinson. As many of you know, Cliff suffered a significant injury last season that sidelined him for a considerable amount of time. I’m pleased to report that Cliff has been working incredibly hard in his rehabilitation, and we are optimistic that he will be fully recovered and ready to go for the start of the upcoming season. His presence on the court is crucial to our team, and we’ve missed his scoring and defensive versatility.

Looking ahead, we understand that we have a lot of work to do. Last season was not acceptable, and we are committed to improving. The addition of Fat, combined with the anticipated return of a healthy Cliff, gives us a strong foundation to build upon. We also have a solid core in players like Larry Drew, Darryl Dawkins, and Herb Williams, and we believe this anticipated starting lineup has the potential to be very competitive in this league.

Our goal is to be a tough, hard-nosed team that plays together and competes every single night. We want to earn the respect of our opponents and, most importantly, the respect of our fans. We know we have a long road ahead, but we are excited about the direction we are heading.

With that being said, I would like to open the floor to any questions from the media

[WigNosy]

Steve Duin, Portland Trailblazers beat writer for the Oregonian...

With the Knicks shipping off Buck Williams and the Milwaukee Bucks blowing it up, do you think the path is clear for a return to playoffs and glory from the Nets? Who will be your biggest obstacles in getting back to the top of the mountain?

[greepleairport]

Losing Cliff last year for 25 games was a huge blow to the team, but did it tell the whole story for the tough season? Were there any other areas that you thought the team could have improved? Have you met with Fat and Drew to figure out who the starting PG will be?

[RPF]

Steve Duin, Portland Trailblazers beat writer for the Oregonian...

With the Knicks shipping off Buck Williams and the Milwaukee Bucks blowing it up, do you think the path is clear for a return to playoffs and glory from the Nets? Who will be your biggest obstacles in getting back to the top of the mountain?

That's a very interesting question, and one that I know our fans are also considering. The recent moves by the Knicks and the Bucks certainly create a different landscape in the Eastern Conference. Buck Williams was a formidable player for the Knicks, and any significant change in a competitor's roster is something we take note of. Similarly, any restructuring in Milwaukee will undoubtedly have implications.

We still have the Pacers, Bullets, Cavaliers, etc in our conference. I wouldn't be doing my job if we were to overlook any of those ball clubs.

[RPF]

Losing Cliff last year for 25 games was a huge blow to the team, but did it tell the whole story for the tough season? Were there any other areas that you thought the team could have improved? Have you met with Fat and Drew to figure out who the starting PG will be?

That's correct, Cliff's injury was a significant setback, but our struggles last season extended beyond that, encompassing inconsistent defense and offensive execution. We've identified areas for improvement across the board and are working to address them in the offseason. Regarding the starting point guard, we've begun discussions with both Fat and Larry, and a decision will be made closer to training camp based on their performance and fit within our system. We have been studying the Preseason games that were played to get the most out of both players.

[Eazy P]

Fat looks great. Do you see him making a major impact day1?

[RPF]

Fat looks great. Do you see him making a major impact day1?

He's certainly impressed us early on with his talent and work ethic. While we're optimistic about Fat's potential, expecting a major impact from any rookie on day one in the NBA is a significant ask. We anticipate he'll contribute and grow throughout the season, but we'll be patient and allow him to develop at his own pace within our team structure.

[Darth Vegito]

What has been the overall temp of the locker room after last season? Especially for the guys that were around for the Championship run, and then how last season went...has it been difficult to keep the morale up?