Brooklyn Nets jersey history No. 42 - Mike Bantom (1977)

Story byBrooklyn Nets jersey history No. 42 - Mike Bantom (1977)Justin Quinn, Nets WireWed, February 4, 2026 at 2:00 AM UTC·1 min read

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 second of 14 people to wear the No. 42 jersey, forward alum Mike Bantom. After ending his college career at Saint Joseph's, Bantom was picked up with the eighth overall selection of the 1973 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns.

The Philadelphia, Pennsylvania native played parts of the first three seasons of his pro career with the Suns. He also played for the Seattle SuperSonics before he was dealt to the (then) New York (now, Brooklyn) Nets in 1977. His stay with the team lasted until he signed with the (then) Buffalo Braves (now, Boston Celtics - it's a long story) that offseason.

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During his time suiting up for the Nets, Bantom wore only jersey No. 42 and put up

All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.

This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets jersey history No. 42 - Mike Bantom (1977)

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