Richard jefferson hurt by the Nets struggles S. Bondy

**biba** · 02-15-2011

Richard Jefferson helped build up the Nets, says it hurts to see the franchise struggle

BY Stefan Bondy / NY Daily News / February 14, 2011 11:17 PM

Richard Jefferson keeps tabs on the Nets from the opposite side of the NBA standings, and he can’t help but feel disappointed.

Unlike his former All-Star teammates during the glory years in New Jersey, Jefferson believed in Brooklyn and wanted to stay with the Nets.

The fallout since his departure has been tough to watch.

“One of the things with the group that I came with, we took a lot of pride in turning around the franchise,” the Spurs forward said before the Spurs 102-85 victory at the Prudential Center. “Even it was a defensive championship or making the playoffs every year, we all took that as a step in the right direction of making this an elite franchise.

“So, obviously, their struggles hurt.”

Jefferson was so fond of his stay in New Jersey that he considered it as a free-agent destination over the summer. The Nets weren’t interested – mostly because of his age (30) and asking price -- and instead signed Travis Outlaw to be the starting small forward.

“I felt it was best opportunity to re-negotiate a contract and New Jersey and coming back to this area was something I looked into,” Jefferson said, noting that New York was also an option that was stifled by the Knicks’ chase for Carmelo Anthony.

Even with the Nets coming off a 12-70 season, Jefferson was willing to leave a le contender for two seasons in Newark, the rest in the outer borough.

“This was a team that drafted me, this is where I spent the first seven of my career,” he said. “So there’s always going to be that connection.

“I want them to have success. I want them to play well. I want them to continue the hard work and tradition that a lot of guys built.”

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