Antoine Walker

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Lore & Background

The Brooklyn Nets' history is defined by specific eras: Julius Erving leading two ABA championships in the mid-1970s, and Jason Kidd guiding the team to consecutive NBA Finals appearances in 2002 and 2003. Antoine Walker was a central part of the Boston Celtics during this same window, providing a formidable matchup for New Jersey. The rivalry peaked in the 2002 conference finals when Kenyon Martin stated, 'Our fans hate them, their fans hate us.' Later, in the 2019–20 season, tensions flared again between the franchises over Kyrie Irving, but Walker's era remained distinct to Boston. He was part of the roster that swept Boston in the 2003 playoffs before moving on to a career that included stints with Dallas and Miami.

In Their Own Story

The narrative of the Nets involves a nomadic beginning as the New Jersey Americans in 1967, a move to Long Island as the New York Nets, and a return to New Jersey where they became the New Jersey Nets from 1977 to 2012. It was during this New Jersey era that Antoine Walker's Boston Celtics served as their primary foil. The story of their clashes includes specific moments like the 2002 conference finals altercation involving Rajon Rondo, Gerald Wallace, and Kris Humphries years later, but Walker himself was not on the court for those 2012 incidents. The franchise eventually moved to Brooklyn in 2012, becoming the first major sports team there since the Dodgers left in 1957. Throughout these relocations and roster overhauls involving Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Kevin Durant, and Kyrie Irving, Antoine Walker's name never appeared on a Brooklyn or New Jersey Nets roster.

Reader's Guide

To understand Antoine Walker's place in basketball history relative to the Nets, one must recognize he was never an affiliate. For fans tracking his legacy, it is important to distinguish between players who faced the Nets in high-stakes playoff series, like Walker did in 2002, and those who actually played for the franchise. The Nets' historical guides highlight figures like Julius Erving, Jason Kidd, Vince Carter, and the recent stars of the Brooklyn era. Any attempt to include Walker in the Nets' history is a factual error, as his contributions belong entirely to other chapters of NBA lore.

Did You Know?

• Antoine Walker faced the Nets in the conference finals of the 2002 playoffs while playing for the Boston Celtics.
• During the 2002 series, Kenyon Martin noted that 'Our fans hate them, their fans hate us' regarding the rivalry with Boston.
• Walker was not part of the New Jersey Nets roster during their consecutive NBA Finals runs in 2002 and 2003.
• The Nets moved to Brooklyn in 2012, becoming the first major sports franchise in the borough since the Brooklyn Dodgers departed in 1957.