Kendall Gill – Syndication Server

LaMelo Ball makes Hornets history with 20-point performance vs. Mavericks

LaMelo Ball was on the right side of history on Wednesday after his best game of the season in a victory over the Dallas Mavericks.

In just four short games into his rookie season with the Charlotte Hornets, LaMelo Ball has made history multiple times. After being on the wrong side of history in his first game in the NBA in which he finished scoreless, Ball was on the right side of history on Wednesday.

Against the Mavericks, Ball finished with 22 points, nine rebounds and five assists off the bench in a 118-99 win over the Mavericks on the road. It was the first time a Hornets rookie had record 15 points, five rebounds and five assists in a game since Kemba Walker did so in April of 2012.

Moreso, it’s the first time in nearly three decades that a Hornets rookie has recorded 20 points, five rebounds and five assists off the bench in a game since Kendall Gill did so in 1991.

Ball had it all going on Wednesday, shooting 7-of-10 from the field and 4-of-5 from the three-point line while adding a block and a steal to his stat line in the win.

Kendall Gill wishes Nets were in Brooklyn when he played

The New Jersey Nets only made the NBA playoffs once during Kendall Gill’s five-plus-year run with the franchise.

For a little more than a third of his 15-year NBA career, Kendall Gill’s home court was in New Jersey as a member of the Nets. He played more home games in New Jersey than anywhere else, having spent time with six other organizations throughout his career.

However, the wing wouldn’t have minded if the Nets were located elsewhere — specifically Brooklyn.

During his appearance on WFAN’s Joe and Evan on Monday, Gill was asked how he felt about the Nets moving to Brooklyn and Barclays Center. He didn’t have any issue with it whatsoever:

I love it, man. Hey listen, I wish they had gone over to Brooklyn for a couple of years when I was there, too. … Even though I love New Jersey. I actually, when I was playing I lived in Manhattan. I live right on 43rd and 11th avenue. … I would have loved to have played in Brooklyn.

Gill averaged 14.9 points, 4.5 rebounds. 4.2 assists and two steals per game throughout his Nets career. The team made the postseason once in his 5.5 seasons.

Kendall Gill responds to Michael Jordan’s slight at ’98 Nets

In Ep. 7 of “The Last Dance,” one of Michael Jordan’s quotes about the ’98 Nets resurfaced. He didn’t seem to think highly of New Jersey.

The seventh installment of ESPN’s docuseries on the 1997-98 Bulls, “The Last Dance,” highlighted the first-round matchup between Chicago and the John Calipari-led New Jersey Nets. Among the highlights from that season used in the episode was a clip of then ESPN anchor Brian Kenny quoting Michael Jordan, saying:

Michael Jordan actually said, to lose a game to the Nets, his team would have to ‘fall asleep.’

The Nets then gave the Bulls a scare in Game 1, but Chicago ultimately prevailed and won the opening contest of the series 96-93. The Bulls would go on to win the series in three games, en route to another NBA title.

Former Nets wing Kendall Gill remembers how the Nets almost got the better of Chicago in Game 1. He had something to say about Jordan’s comment when he appeared on WFAN’s Joe & Evan on Monday:

You know, Game 1 we almost caught ’em, they were taking a nap. But they woke up at the end. With the team being so young, I don’t think Kerry Kittles and Keith Van Horn really knew any better. They were like, we just playing basketball. They didn’t really realize we were playing the Chicago Bulls dynasty.

The retired Net also recalled the play in the final minute of overtime in Game 1 when the score was 91-91 and Jordan picked Kittles pocket, then scored on a fast break and went to the line after Gill tried to stop him:

That’s why I’m still mad at Kerry Kittles — because he didn’t run the play he was supposed to run. Coming out of the huddle, Calipari draws up a play, all right, Kerry you’re going to get the ball. Michael Jordan’s on you. Swing the ball to Kendall, who had Tony Kucoc on him and just let Kendall take him one-on-one. What does Kerry Kittles decide to do? He decides to try to take Michael Jordan by himself.

So, Michael steals the basketball and he’s got like three or four steps on me. But I really think that I can catch him because I had success against Michael, guarding him. Blocking his shots and things like that. Not on the fastbreak, but blocking his jump shot and everything. But I still thought that I had an opportunity to get it. And it was the last seconds of the game, it was a key play. The only thing was he jumped before I did and, unfortunately, I fouled him and here I am, what, 22 years later still having to answer questions about that. Anytime my brother wants to shut me up, he sends me that play.

Today in Nets history: Pistons take first game of 2004 East Semifinals

The Nets haven’t played many games on May 3 in the franchise’s history. That may be for the best.

With the NBA on hiatus and New York continuing its battle against the novel coronavirus outbreak, Brooklyn Nets games will not be played for the foreseeable future.

For the Nets, as much as any team, this comes at an odd time — Brooklyn was battling the Orlando Magic for the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference standings. At the stoppage of play, the Nets had a half-game advantage over the Magic.

Since there aren’t any games, each day Nets Wire will highlight impressive individual performances and major moments throughout Nets history:

The Nets have only played three games on May 3 in the history of the franchise — and never won.

In 1984, Darryl Dawkins scored 31 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the third game of the 1984 Eastern Conference Semifinals, which New Jersey lost 100-93 to the Milwaukee Bucks (full box score).

Fast-forward 15 years and the Nets were playing their second-to-last game of the abbreviated 1998-99 NBA season. New Jersey was well out of playoff contention, ranked last in the Eastern Conference heading into their matchup with the Washington Wizards.

Stephon Marbury scored 37 points and had 10 assists, Kendall Gill finished with 18 points, eight assists and five steals, and Jamie Feick grabbed 19 rebounds to set a career-high (which he would break in the 1999-00 season) — but it was all for naught. The Nets lost 102-113 (full box score).

The last time the Nets played on May 3 came in 2004, when they started the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Detroit Pistons.

Only two Nets — Kenyon Martin and Kerry Kittles — finished in double figures. They combined for 25 points as New Jersey lost Game 1 78-56 (full box score).

Today in Nets history: Kendall Gill ties NBA record for steals in a game

Only two Nets players have ever logged double-digit steals in one game. Kendall Gill became the second to do so on April 3, 1999.

With the NBA on hiatus — which NBA commissioner Adam Silver set at 30 days — and New York’s governor, Andrew Cuomo, placing a ban on gatherings of more than 500 people for the foreseeable future due to the coronavirus outbreak in the United States, no Brooklyn Nets games will be played for the time being.

Since there aren’t any games, each day Nets Wire will highlight major individual performances and key developments throughout Nets history:

Entering the New Jersey Nets’ game against the Miami Heat on April 3, 1999, only one player in Nets franchise history had logged 10 steals in a game. Eddie Jordan (10) did so in 1979.

But by the end of New Jersey’s 88-77 win (full box score), Jordan wasn’t alone in this exclusive club. In fact, a new franchise record had been set.

But Kendall Gill’s 11 steals didn’t only set a Nets record. He also tied the NBA record for steals in a game. The record had been set by Larry Kenon in the San Antonio Spurs’ first NBA season (1976-1977).

There has yet to be a third player in the history in the NBA to reach Kenon and Gill’s mark.

Gill also scored 15 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.

Keith Van Horn led the Nets with 27 points, and Stephon Marbury scored 21.