This was supposed to be another year of the rebuild season for the Brooklyn Nets. After missing the playoffs three years in a row, the 2018-19 season was supposed to be more of the same.

Instead, the Brooklyn Nets hold the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference and will take on the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the playoffs. Their resurgence surprised everyone, including head coach Kenny Atkinson.

Via Michael Scotto of The Athletic (subscription required):

“Like I told them, the old story – no one believed you could do it,” Atkinson said. “I think those are the most beautiful moments in sports. I’ve never won an NBA championship, but next to that, we’ve kind of proven everybody wrong, the predictions. Even their head coach. They proved me wrong. They’re much better than I thought they were going to be. I didn’t know that tightness until I got to know that group of guys in there. As the season went on, it was like, this is possible. It’s just a great group of guys in there.”

Entering the season, ESPN projected the Nets for 32 wins, while Bleacher Report pegged the team for just 29 victories. But Brooklyn defied all odds, finishing at 42-40. While unlikely to sustain a deep playoff run, their 2018-19 season has already been a success.

The Nets are set up for success for years to come. D'Angelo Russell had a breakout season and has established himself as one of the league's best young players.

Additionally, young talent like Rodions Kurucs and Jarrett Allen began to establish themselves this season and should only continue to grow.

Brooklyn's rebuild is ahead of schedule, and the underdogs will look to upset the Sixers in the first round.