1983 New Jersey Nets Pre-Season Press Conference

[RPF]

Alright everyone, if I could have your attention, please. Let’s settle in. Thank you all for coming. On behalf of the entire New Jersey Nets organization, from our ownership group to every person who works in this building, welcome. We know you have a lot of questions, and today, we hope to provide a lot of answers.

Last season was, to put it mildly, not what any of us had hoped for. A 23-59 record is a bitter pill to swallow for this franchise and for our dedicated fans. We don't run from that number. We own it. But we also view it as a necessary foundation from which we were forced to rebuild, rethink, and re-energize. Today is about the future. It’s about the dawn of a new era of Nets basketball.

Here with us today to discuss that future are several key figures. To my left, your chocolate thunder, Darryl Dawkins. Next to him, our floor general, Larry Drew. And a young man we believe is one of the cornerstones of our future, the number two overall pick in the 1983 NBA Draft, from the University of Tennessee, Dale Ellis.

I’ll be direct. Twenty-three and fifty-nine. That record has hung over this organization like a shroud since the final buzzer in April. It’s a record that doesn’t reflect the character of the men who wore the uniform, the dedication of the coaching staff, or the unwavering support of our fans. But it is, nonetheless, our record. It’s the reality we had to confront this offseason.

No one could have predicted the sheer adversity we’d face. The most devastating blow, without question, was the loss of Lafayette "Fat" Lever. Here was a young man, a rookie, who in just a few short months had become the engine of our team. The heart, the hustle, the vision… he was everything you want in a point guard and a leader. To see him go down with that broken leg was heartbreaking, not just for its effect on our season, but for the kid himself.

But in the darkest moments, you find clarity. That adversity forced our hand. It accelerated our timeline. And it led directly to the assembly of talent you see before you today. A terrible record gave us a chance in the lottery, a chance we capitalized on. The roster situation gave us the flexibility to pursue legends. And the memory of what winning felt like fueled our desire to bring that feeling back to New Jersey.

This offseason was about three things: acquiring elite talent, restoring a championship culture, and building a bridge to a dynamic future.

First, the talent. We were fortunate to move up in the draft lottery. And with the second pick, we felt we had the opportunity to select the purest scorer, the most lethal shooter available: Dale Ellis. We didn't just draft a shooter, ladies and gentlemen. We drafted a basketball player. We encourage you to watch him move without the ball. Watch his dedication on defense. This is a complete player who is going to be a matchup nightmare in this league for a decade to come. Dale, we are thrilled to have you.

Second, the culture. You don’t just create a winning culture with talk. You import it. You live it. You breathe it. And no one embodies the spirit of what we achieved here more than the two men sitting next to him. Larry Drew was the steady hand, the brilliant floor general of our championship team. He is a coach on the floor, a man whose basketball IQ is second to none. He brings an immediate sense of calm, professionalism, and accountability to our locker room.

And then… there’s the big man. What can you say about Darryl Dawkins? He is the force of nature that put this franchise on the map. He is "Chocolate Thunder." He is the charisma, the power, the intimidation. He’s the man who patrolled our paint and made other teams think twice about even entering the lane. Bringing Darryl and Larry back wasn't a nostalgia act. It was a strategic imperative. It was a message to our fans and to the league: The Nets are serious about winning, and we are bringing back the men who know how to do it.

We have a long road ahead. Twenty-three and fifty-nine isn't erased overnight. But look at this table. You see a rookie star, you see veteran leadership, you see a defensive anchor, and you see championship DNA. This is not the team that left the floor in April. This is a new team. A new identity. A new hope.

Finally, the future. And that brings me back to Fat Lever. I spoke with him this morning. He is attacking his rehabilitation with the same ferocity he attacks a loose ball. He is ahead of schedule. Our medical staff is astounded by his progress. We will not rush him, we will not put him on the floor one second before he is 110% ready. But let me be clear: Fat Lever is the future of this team. The pieces we have assembled here today are not just here to win games now; they are here to build a powerhouse that he will one day lead. Larry Drew is the perfect mentor. Darryl is the perfect protector. Dale is the perfect running mate.

And now I would like to open the floor for questions.

[Eazy P]

What are you thought on the Fat Lever broken leg recovery bill being passed this off season?

[WigNosy]

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

The story of the Nets since their title run seems to have been, "guys missing time due to injuries." Have you taken any steps to impose an offseason regimen that will help your players' durability? And where do you see the ceiling of this team if you can stay healthy?

[RPF]

What are you thought on the Fat Lever broken leg recovery bill being passed this off season?

I can tell you that the organization has put every possible resource behind Fat's rehabilitation and we co-sponsored the Bring Back the Leg Act of 1982. We are grateful of all of the thought and resources that have helped this legislation pass.

[BigDaddyd8720]

Picks Emmington of the SLOE Gazette,

How much longer do you see this team having to develop before they start making some playoff pushes? It seems you aren't too far away on paper.

[IamQuailman]

Who would you say is your franchise player at this point for your team?

[AngryBanana]

Chet Youbetcha, Dimmadome News: do you think moving one, or a combo, of your young players for an established star could be in your future?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[RPF]

Picks Emmington of the SLOE Gazette,

How much longer do you see this team having to develop before they start making some playoff pushes? It seems you aren't too far away on paper.

You're right, on paper, the talent is here. And I want to be perfectly clear about our timeline:

The push for the playoffs isn't something we see happening in the future. The push starts right now.

We didn't bring back champions like Darryl Dawkins and Larry Drew to wait and develop for two or three seasons. You bring in men of that caliber to change the culture and win immediately. They are our standard-bearers.

When you add a dynamic, NBA-ready scorer like Dale Ellis to that veteran foundation, you have the pieces to compete. Of course, it will take time for this group to build chemistry on the court, and there will be challenges. We understand that.

But the goal, the absolute expectation for this 1983-84 season, is to make the playoffs. We owe it to our fans, and we believe we have assembled the talent and the leadership to get it done. We are not building for tomorrow; we are fighting for today.

[RPF]

Who would you say is your franchise player at this point for your team?

That's an excellent and crucial question.

Based on our vision for this team, the answer is twofold, representing both our present and our future.

Right now, the man who puts this franchise on his back is Darryl Dawkins. He is the returning champion, the anchor of our defense, and the personality that will electrify this arena. He is the force we are building around for opening night. He brings the "thunder," and he is the immediate face of this re-energized team.

However, when we talk about the long-term cornerstone and the player this team will ultimately be built around for the next decade, that person is Fat Lever. We have been clear: he is the future of this organization. Every move we've made, including bringing in a veteran mentor like Larry Drew, is to build a winning structure for Fat to step back into and lead.

So, Darryl is the powerful, thundering pulse of our present, and Fat is the brilliant, beating heart of our future.

[RPF]

Chet Youbetcha, Dimmadome News: do you think moving one, or a combo, of your young players for an established star could be in your future?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

As a front office, you are always listening. You have a duty to the organization to explore any opportunity that could legitimately make you a championship contender.

However, our belief is that we already have our future stars in-house. We view Fat Lever as a potential top-tier point guard in this league for the next decade. He is our franchise cornerstone. And we believe Dale Ellis has the potential to be one of the most dangerous and prolific scorers in the NBA. You simply do not trade away that kind of foundational, high-ceiling young talent lightly.

Our strategy this offseason was deliberate. We didn't want to just find a star; we wanted to build a sustainable winner. We chose to surround our incredible young core with proven champions in Darryl and Larry. This model allows us to compete for the playoffs right now while our young players develop within a winning culture, guided by true professionals.

So, while you never say never in this business, we are not actively looking to move our young players. Our plan is to grow with them. We believe the fastest path to becoming a true contender is by developing the elite talent we already possess.