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Brooklyn Nets: 25 Best Players To Play For The Nets

By Phil Watson

Nov 2, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; General view of the opening tip-off between the Brooklyn Nets and the Milwaukee Bucks during the first quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 2, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; General view of the opening tip-off between the Brooklyn Nets and the Milwaukee Bucks during the first quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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The first home of the franchise, then known as the New Jersey Americans, was the Teaneck (N.J.) Armory. (Photo by Jim Henderson via Wikimedia Commons/This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.)
The first home of the franchise, then known as the New Jersey Americans, was the Teaneck (N.J.) Armory. (Photo by Jim Henderson via Wikimedia Commons/This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.) /

147. <strong>How acquired:</strong> Trade, Oakland Oaks, Jan. 18, 1968; Trade, Denver Rockets, June 26, 1969.. SG. 1968-69, 1969-71. Levern Tart. 12. player

Levern Tart was one of those players who found refuge in the ABA, a former NBA draft pick who never caught on in the established league and bounced around the fringes of the game until getting a shot when the new league started.

The New Jersey Americans acquired Tart in a January 1968 trade with the Oakland Oaks in exchange for Barry Leibowitz.

Leary Lentz
Leary Lentz /

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In June 1969, the Nets brought back Tart, purchasing his contract from the Denver Rockets.

He was an All-Star in 1970, but was on the move again in January 1971, traded with Ed Johnson to the Texas Chaparrals in exchange for Manny Leaks.

In parts of four seasons in New Jersey and New York, Tart averaged 20.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and three assists in 35.8 minutes per game, shooting .462/.313/.790.

Tart was a sixth-round pick out of Bradley by the Boston Celtics in the 1964 NBA Draft, but never played in the NBA. Waived in October 1964, Tart played in the Eastern Professional Basketball League until signing with the Oaks in July 1967.

In February 1969, Houston traded Tart to the Rockets. He retired after he was waived by Texas in July 1971.

In retirement, Tart was a site manager for a senior care center on Long Island and a recreation coordinator at a juvenile detention center in Nassau County.

He was found dead at his apartment in Long Beach, N.Y., on June 22, 2010, at the age of 68 after friends had been unable to reach him for two weeks.

Tart was 15th in ABA history with an average of 19.4 points per game and 24th with an average of 33.8 minutes per game

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