Boston Celtics jersey history No. 33 - Johnny Austin (1967-68)

Boston Celtics jersey history No. 33 - Johnny Austin (1967-68)Story byJustin Quinn, Nets WireFri, November 28, 2025 at 1:00 AM UTC·2 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 first of 22 people to wear the No. 33 jersey, guard alum Johnny Austin. After ending his college career at Boston College, was picked up with the 38th overall selection of the 1966 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics.

The Washington, District of Columbia native played the first four seasons of his pro career with the (then) Baltimore Bullets (now, Washington Wizards) after he was traded before the start of his rookie season. That ended when he was cut just four games into the season, Austin then signing with the ABA's (then) New Jersey Americans (now, Brooklyn Nets) in 1967.

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His stay with the team would span just 41 games before he was cut by the team. During his time suiting up for the Nets, Austin wore only jersey No. 33 and put up 7.7 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game.

All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.

This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Celtics jersey history No. 33 - Johnny Austin (1967-68)

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