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.
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To 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 third of 16 people to wear the No. 30 jersey, guard alum Levern Tart. After ending his college career at Bradley, Tart was picked up with the 52nd overall selection of the 1964 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics, but was cut and signed in another domestic league for three seasons.
The Marion, South Carolina native signed with the ABA’s (defunct) Oakland Oaks in 1967, who dealt him to the (then) New Jersey Americans (now, Brooklyn Nets) in 1968 for his first stint with the team. That stay with the team would span parts of two seasons, coming to an end when he was dealt to the (defunct) Houston Mavericks in 1969.
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In between, he had a stop with the (also defunct) Denver Rockets before he returned to (now) the (then) New York (now, Brooklyn) Nets that same year, ending with a deal to the (defunct) Texas Chaparrals for the final season of his career in 1971. During his time suiting up for the Nets, Tart wore only jersey Nos. 30 and 23 and put up 20.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game.
All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Celtics jersey history No. 30 – Levern Tart (1969-71)