Keith Van Horn, the rare Nets rookie en route to stardom instead of surgery.

"You look at our roster, it's very strong and very deep," said Keith Van Horn, the Nets rookie forward, who had 18 points.

Promotions at home games centered on the guard from Boys and Girls High School in Brooklyn, who played in 72 games as a Nets rookie.

"We just weren't meant to win this game," the Nets rookie Stephen Jackson said.

The Nets rookie Kenyon Martin opened up the perimeter in the second half with his spectacular first-half play.

This was not the homecoming the Nets rookie Kenyon Martin envisioned.

Every day since March 22 has been a day off for Martin, the Nets rookie.

He came into the game ready to feast on the Nets rookie Kenyon Martin (15 points and 9 rebounds), who showed he was not intimidated.

For the record, it was Jan. 23, 1991, when Coleman, fresh from Syracuse, was a Nets rookie.

He would make a pump fake and watch the Nets rookie Kenyon Martin jerk back like a boxer being smashed with a jab.