The 1970âÂÂ71 New York Nets season was the fourth season of the franchise and third season using the New York Nets name after first playing as the New Jersey Americans in their inaugural season. On January 6, 1971, during a game versus the Memphis Pros, referee Andy Hershock suffered a heart attack, later dying in the medical office at Island Garden. The game was later restarted, with the Nets winning 110âÂÂ101. Two months later, they played the Kentucky Colonels in a doubleheader benefit game for Hershock.
This was also Rick Barry's first season with the Nets after he expressed his sincerest public desires to not play for the Virginia Squires out in the state of Virginia. Barry averaged 29.4 points per game.
Eastern Division semifinals vs. Virginia Squires
Nets lose series, 4âÂÂ2