![Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal (R) receives the NBA playoffs Most Valuable Player trophy, his third consecutive playoffs MVP, from NBA Commissioner David Stern (L) as Laker coach Phil Jackson and Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal (R) receives the NBA playoffs Most Valuable Player trophy, his third consecutive playoffs MVP, from NBA Commissioner David Stern (L) as Laker coach Phil Jackson and](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2D452W0/los-angeles-lakers-center-shaquille-oneal-r-receives-the-nba-playoffs-most-valuable-player-trophy-his-third-consecutive-playoffs-mvp-from-nba-commissioner-david-stern-l-as-laker-coach-phil-jackson-and-teammate-kobe-bryant-far-right-watch-in-east-rutherford-new-jersey-june-12-2002-the-lakers-swept-the-new-jersey-nets-in-four-games-to-win-their-third-consecutive-nba-championship-reutersjeff-christensen-tmssv-2D452W0.jpg)
Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal (R) receives the NBA playoffs Most Valuable Player trophy, his third consecutive playoffs MVP, from NBA Commissioner David Stern (L) as Laker coach Phil Jackson and
![New Jersey Nets Jason Kidd (5) is congratulated by teammates Donny Marshall (L), Jason Collins (C) and Richard Jefferson as he leaves the game during 4th quarter action in Game 5 of New Jersey Nets Jason Kidd (5) is congratulated by teammates Donny Marshall (L), Jason Collins (C) and Richard Jefferson as he leaves the game during 4th quarter action in Game 5 of](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2D46EE8/new-jersey-nets-jason-kidd-5-is-congratulated-by-teammates-donny-marshall-l-jason-collins-c-and-richard-jefferson-as-he-leaves-the-game-during-4th-quarter-action-in-game-5-of-the-nba-eastern-conference-finals-against-the-boston-celtics-in-east-rutherford-may-29-2002-new-jersey-defeated-boston-103-92-to-take-a-3-games-to-2-lead-in-the-series-nets-head-coach-byron-scott-2nd-l-stands-in-background-reuters-mike-segar-gmh-2D46EE8.jpg)
New Jersey Nets Jason Kidd (5) is congratulated by teammates Donny Marshall (L), Jason Collins (C) and Richard Jefferson as he leaves the game during 4th quarter action in Game 5 of
![New Jersey Nets guard Jason Kidd (C) is grabbed by coach Byron Scott (R) in front of forward Kenyon Martin as the Nets beat the Washington Wizards 101-88 April 9, 2002 at New Jersey Nets guard Jason Kidd (C) is grabbed by coach Byron Scott (R) in front of forward Kenyon Martin as the Nets beat the Washington Wizards 101-88 April 9, 2002 at](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2D43KMD/new-jersey-nets-guard-jason-kidd-c-is-grabbed-by-coach-byron-scott-r-in-front-of-forward-kenyon-martin-as-the-nets-beat-the-washington-wizards-101-88-april-9-2002-at-the-continental-airlines-arena-in-east-rutherford-new-jersey-the-nets-clinched-the-eastern-division-championship-and-home-court-advantage-in-their-division-for-the-playoffs-reutersray-stubblebine-rfssv-2D43KMD.jpg)
New Jersey Nets guard Jason Kidd (C) is grabbed by coach Byron Scott (R) in front of forward Kenyon Martin as the Nets beat the Washington Wizards 101-88 April 9, 2002 at
![Two-time NBA finalists, the New Jersey Nets, fired coach Byron Scott on January 26, 2004 and installed his assistant, Lawrence Frank, as his successor on an interim basis. Scott guided the Nets Two-time NBA finalists, the New Jersey Nets, fired coach Byron Scott on January 26, 2004 and installed his assistant, Lawrence Frank, as his successor on an interim basis. Scott guided the Nets](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2D4BG77/two-time-nba-finalists-the-new-jersey-nets-fired-coach-byron-scott-on-january-26-2004-and-installed-his-assistant-lawrence-frank-as-his-successor-on-an-interim-basis-scott-guided-the-nets-to-eastern-conference-titles-in-2002-and-2003-despite-their-winning-22-20-record-they-have-endured-an-inconsistent-and-fraught-season-scott-is-shown-during-the-nba-finals-in-this-june-6-2003-file-photo-reutersmike-blake-rcsv-2D4BG77.jpg)
Two-time NBA finalists, the New Jersey Nets, fired coach Byron Scott on January 26, 2004 and installed his assistant, Lawrence Frank, as his successor on an interim basis. Scott guided the Nets
![New Jersey Nets coach Byron Scott (L) and referee Dan Crawford stare at the ceiling at Continental Airlines Arena, looking at a leak that was letting water fall on the court, before New Jersey Nets coach Byron Scott (L) and referee Dan Crawford stare at the ceiling at Continental Airlines Arena, looking at a leak that was letting water fall on the court, before](https://l450v.alamy.com/450v/2cnnyn4/new-jersey-nets-coach-byron-scott-a-former-nba-champion-with-the-los-angeles-lakers-looks-on-prior-to-the-start-of-game-1-of-the-nba-finals-june-5-2002-in-los-angeles-reutersadrees-latif-rg-2cnnyn4.jpg)
New Jersey Nets coach Byron Scott (L) and referee Dan Crawford stare at the ceiling at Continental Airlines Arena, looking at a leak that was letting water fall on the court, before
![New Jersey Nets guard Lucious Harris celebrates after a basket as Boston Celtics head coach Jim O'Brien makes a face (L) during the second quarter of Game 3 of the NBA Eastern New Jersey Nets guard Lucious Harris celebrates after a basket as Boston Celtics head coach Jim O'Brien makes a face (L) during the second quarter of Game 3 of the NBA Eastern](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2D46EDP/new-jersey-nets-guard-lucious-harris-celebrates-after-a-basket-as-boston-celtics-head-coach-jim-obrien-makes-a-face-l-during-the-second-quarter-of-game-3-of-the-nba-eastern-conference-finals-in-boston-may-25-2002-the-series-was-tied-at-1-1-entering-game-3-reutersray-stubblebine-msme-2D46EDP.jpg)
New Jersey Nets guard Lucious Harris celebrates after a basket as Boston Celtics head coach Jim O'Brien makes a face (L) during the second quarter of Game 3 of the NBA Eastern
![Boston Celtics forward Eric Williams celebrates his three-point basket in front of New Jersey Nets head coach Byron Scott (R) late in the fourth quarter of Game 2 of the NBA Eastern Boston Celtics forward Eric Williams celebrates his three-point basket in front of New Jersey Nets head coach Byron Scott (R) late in the fourth quarter of Game 2 of the NBA Eastern](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2D4DYBW/boston-celtics-forward-eric-williams-celebrates-his-three-point-basket-in-front-of-new-jersey-nets-head-coach-byron-scott-r-late-in-the-fourth-quarter-of-game-2-of-the-nba-eastern-conference-finals-in-east-rutherford-new-jersey-may-21-2002-the-celtics-won-the-game-93-86-to-tie-the-series-at-1-1-reutersmike-segar-pmsv-2D4DYBW.jpg)