Head coach Butch Beard Record 30–52 (.366) | Arena Brendan Byrne Arena Playoff finish Did not qualify | |
Place Division: 6th (Atlantic)
Conference: 12th (Eastern) | ||
The 1995–96 NBA season was the Nets' 29th season in the National Basketball Association, and 20th season in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Nets began their season losing their season opener to the expansion Toronto Raptors at 94–79. Derrick Coleman missed the first month of the season due to an irregular heartbeat. After the month was over, he was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers for Shawn Bradley, and Kenny Anderson was dealt to the Charlotte Hornets for Kendall Gill in January. Without Coleman and Anderson, the Nets started to play better down the stretch, but would lose 12 of their final 14 games to finish sixth in the Atlantic Division with a 30–52 record. Following the season, head coach Butch Beard was fired, Armen Gilliam signed as a free agent with the Milwaukee Bucks, P.J. Brown signed with the Miami Heat, second-year guard Chris Childs signed with the New York Knicks, and Rick Mahorn re-signed with the Detroit Pistons.