Established
1967
City
New Jersey - New York - New Jersey - Brooklyn
League History
1976 - Present / National Basketball Association
1967 - 1976 / American Basketball Association
Team History
2012 - Present / Brooklyn Nets
1977 - 2012 / New Jersey Nets
1968 - 1977 / New York Nets
1967 - 1968 / New Jersey Americans
Nickname
Nets - As a sports fan, you may be familiar with the Brooklyn Nets and their iconic black-and-white color scheme. But did you know that the team’s nickname has an interesting origin story?
The franchise was founded in 1967 as part of the American Basketball Association (ABA) under its original name, The New York Americans. It wasn't until 1972 that they changed their name to The New York Nets after merging with another ABA team from Kentucky called The Colonels. This new identity was chosen to reflect both teams' geographic locations - "Net" being a reference to basketball's net and "New York" being self-explanatory - but it also had symbolic meaning behind it too: “Nets” were seen as something that binds people together; connecting them through sport regardless of race or background which suited perfectly for this newly formed multi-cultural team coming from two different states!
Brooklyn Nets Origin
In 1976, when they moved across state lines into New Jersey, they decided to change their location and tweak their name slightly by becoming known simply as 'The Nets.' This move made sense since now all players on the roster came from either Brooklyn or Newark at this point, so having one unified title made more sense than two separate ones like before. Finally, in 2012 when billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov bought out majority ownership rights over what is now known as today: ‘Brooklyn Nets'; thus bringing back some nostalgia while providing an updated image for fans everywhere who love watching professional basketball games at Barclays Center each season!
So there you have it – next time someone asks why they are called 'The Nets,' tell them how this unique nickname originated all those years ago!
Championship
NBA Championships 0
ABA Championships 0
1976, 1974
Arena
2012 - Present / Barclays Center
*New Jersey*
2010 - 2012 / Prudential Center
1981 - 2010 / Izod Center
1977 - 1981 / Rutgers Athletic Center
*New York*
1972 - 1977 / Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
1969 - 1972 / Island Garden
1968 - 1969 / Long Island Arena
*New Jersey*
1967 - 1968 / Teaneck Armory
Owner
2018 - Present / Joe and Clara Tsai
2010 - 2017 / Mikhail Prokhorov
2003 - 2010 / Bruce Ratner
1999 - 2003 / YankeeNets
1998 - 1999 / Raymond Chambers and Lewis Katz
1978 - 1998 / Secaucus Seven
1969 - 1978 / Roy Boe
1967 - 1969 / Arthur Brown
- 2010
- 2011
- 2012
- 2013
New Start in Brooklyn
After numerous delays to the project, Russian businessman Mikhail Prokhorov agreed to a $200 million deal on September 23, 2009, to become a principal owner of the Nets and a key investor in the team’s proposed home in Brooklyn, bringing in much-needed funding and finally allowing for the new arena to be built. After the dismissal of major pending lawsuits, ...
Surprise Trade for Deron Williams
On February 23, 2011, the Nets made a surprising trade for All-Star point guard Deron Williams. The trade sent Devin Harris and rookie Derrick Favors to the Utah Jazz along with draft picks from the Golden State Warriors and cash considerations. The team went on to lose the first three games with Williams in the lineup, and then win five ...
Returning to New York
The new arena, later named Barclays Center, would be the center of an extensive redevelopment project called the Atlantic Yards being constructed by Ratner’s real estate development company. The new arena is located across the street from the site that Walter O’Malley wanted to use for a new stadium for the Brooklyn Dodgers in the early 1950s. That plan was ...-
Blockbuster Trade with Boston
On June 27, 2013, the Nets and the Boston Celtics agreed in principle on a blockbuster trade (finalized July 12), dealing Kris Humphries, Gerald Wallace, MarShon Brooks, Keith Bogans (in a sign-and-trade), and Kris Joseph, along with three first-round draft picks (2014, 2016, 2018) and an option to swap the 2017 first-round pick, for Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Jason Terry, ...
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
Brooklyn Nets History
The Brooklyn Nets history began in 1967 as a founding member of the ABA, originally named the New Jersey Americans. The team quickly relocated and became the New York Nets, where they found early success. With stars like Julius Erving, they won two ABA championships before joining the NBA in 1976.
When the ABA-NBA merger happened, the franchise faced financial struggles, forcing the sale of Julius Erving. Despite challenges, the Brooklyn Nets history grew with memorable players like Buck Williams in the 1980s and Kenny Anderson in the 1990s. In 1977, the team settled into New Jersey, playing at the Brendan Byrne Arena, which later became known as Continental Airlines Arena.
The 2000s marked a major turning point in Brooklyn Nets basketball. With Jason Kidd leading the way, the Nets reached back-to-back NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003, though they fell short of the championship. Later, stars like Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson helped keep the team competitive, leaving a strong mark on the franchise’s story.
A new era began in 2012 when the team officially moved to Brooklyn and became the Brooklyn Nets, playing at the Barclays Center. Key trades brought in Joe Johnson, Deron Williams, and later Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. Though the gamble did not bring championships, it shaped the modern Brooklyn Nets history.
Brooklyn Nets Achievements
Recent years have seen more superstars arrive, including Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden, forming a “Big Three” that made the Nets one of the most talked-about teams in the NBA. Though injuries limited playoff runs, the franchise showed its ambition to compete at the highest level.
In the 2020s, the Nets remain competitive, with young talents like Mikal Bridges and Cam Thomas now carrying the torch. The team continues to chase its first NBA championship. With a loyal fan base and a home in one of basketball’s most iconic cities, the future of Brooklyn Nets basketball remains promising.
For more about the franchise, check out the full Brooklyn Nets Wikipedia page. To explore other NBA teams’ journeys, visit our NBA Teams History page.
Retired Number
3 / Dražen Petrović
5 / Jason Kidd
23 / John Williamson
25 / Bill Melchionni
32 / Julius Erving
52 / Buck Williams
*Blue is this team’s history