Editing Dikembe Mutombo (section)

===New Jersey Nets (2002–2003)===
On August 7, 2002, the 76ers traded Mutombo to the [[New Jersey Nets]] in exchange for [[Keith Van Horn]] and [[Todd MacCulloch]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Wise|first=Mike|title=Nets Get Mutombo From 76ers For Van Horn and MacCulloch|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/07/sports/pro-basketball-nets-get-mutombo-from-76ers-for-van-horn-and-macculloch.html|access-date=March 3, 2016|work=The New York Times|date=August 7, 2002}}</ref> The Nets were coming off a sweep in the Finals where they were overmatched by Shaq, and brought in Mutombo as the missing piece to a championship,<ref>{{cite news | title = Nets' Mutombo Sidelined | work = Los Angeles Times | date = December 4, 2002 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-dec-04-sp-nbanotes4-story.html | access-date = November 27, 2022}}</ref> similar to what the Sixers did two seasons prior.

Mutombo spent most of the season with a nagging wrist injury that limited him to 24 games.<ref>{{cite news | last = Robbins | first = Liz | title = BASKETBALL; Mutombo Injury Leaves Nets Unsettled | work = The New York Times | date = December 5, 2002 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/05/sports/basketball-mutombo-injury-leaves-nets-unsettled.html | access-date = June 11, 2022}}</ref> He was generally unable to play in the playoffs, typically serving as a sixth man during the Nets' second consecutive Finals run, in which they lost to the Spurs in six games.<ref>{{cite news | last = Robbins | first = Liz | title = PRO BASKETBALL; Scott and Mutombo Try to Clear the Air | work = The New York Times | date = December 14, 2002 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/14/sports/pro-basketball-scott-and-mutombo-try-to-clear-the-air.html | access-date = October 27, 2022}}</ref> After one contentious season in New Jersey, the Nets bought out the remaining two years on his contract.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Popper|first1=Steve|last2=Robbins|first2=Liz|title=Nets Will Buy Out Mutombo's Contract|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/05/sports/pro-basketball-nets-will-buy-out-mutombo-s-contract.html|access-date=March 3, 2016|work=The New York Times|date=October 5, 2003}}</ref>