SPORTS TEAM HISTORY

Sports Team HistorySports Logo History
  • Sports History
    • Baseball History – MLB
    • Basketball History – ABA, NBA, WNBA
    • College History – Divison I Conferences
    • Football History – AAF, CFL, NFL, USFL, XFL
    • Hockey History – NHL
    • Soccer History. – MLS, Premier League
  • Hall of Fame
    • MLB
    • NBA
    • NFL
    • NHL
  • Greatest Player Polls
    • CFL Greatest Player
    • MLB Greatest Player
    • MLS Greatest Player
    • NBA Greatest Player
    • NFL Greatest Player
    • NHL Greatest Player
    • Premier League Greatest Player
    • WNBA Greatest Player
  • More…
    • Sports Team News
    • Latest Sports Videos
      • General Sports Videos
      • MLB Sports Videos
      • NBA Sports Videos
      • NCAA Sports Videos
      • NFL Sports Videos
      • NHL Sports Videos
      • Soccer Sports Videos
      • WNBA Sports Videos
    • YouTube Channel
    • Sports Team History Products
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Search in posts
Search in pages

New Jersey Nets Team History

New Jersey Nets
Nets Primary Logo
Nets Alternate Logo
Nets Wordmark Logo

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 - The New Jersey Nets have a long and storied history in the NBA, but many sports fans may not know the origins of their nickname. The team was founded in 1968 as part of the ABA (American Basketball Association) and originally called themselves “the Americans.” In 1972, they changed their name to “the New York Nets” after merging with another ABA franchise from Long Island; however, when they moved to East Rutherford, New Jersey, in 1977, they became known as “the New Jersey Nets.”

The origin story behind this new name is quite interesting: it came about due to a contest held by then-owner Roy Boe who asked local schoolchildren for suggestions on what he should call his newly relocated basketball team. One student suggested that since many highways were near the arena, including Route 3, which runs through NJ, why not call them "The Highwaymen" or "Networkers"? Boe liked these ideas so much that he chose them both! He combined them into one word – NETS – which has been used ever since! It's also worth noting that before being named after highways and networks, some people had referred to this particular franchise as either 'New Yorkers' or 'Jerseyites.'

This unique moniker has become an iconic representation of everything related to basketball within the Garden State over time; even today, you can still find plenty of merchandise featuring its logo around town! So next time you're watching your favorite NBA game at home or Barclays Center cheering on Brooklyn's version of The Net Workers, remember how it all began in 1972 with Roy Boe's creative idea for naming his beloved team: The NJ NETS!

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
2010 - Present / 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

  • 1977
  • 1978
  • 2001
  • 2004
  • nba-media-guide_new-jersey-nets-1977-78

    Move Back to New Jersey

    Due to the team’s low attendance and poor financial picture in Long Island, Boe decided to move the franchise back to New Jersey prior to the 1977 – 1978 season. The Knicks once again became an obstacle and threatened to block the move because it would infringe on their exclusive territorial rights to New Jersey. The Nets responded by suing ...
    Read More
    See Full Story
  • Jason Kidd - New Jersey Nets 1978

    Renamed New Jersey Nets

    With the move official, the team was renamed the New Jersey Nets after its new home state. While the team awaited the completion of a new arena at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, they played four seasons at the Rutgers Athletic Center at Rutgers University in Piscataway. The 1978 – 1979 season saw the team, aided by the ...
    Read More
    See Full Story
  • Jason Kidd drives against Allen Iverson

    Trade for Jason Kidd

    On the night of the 2001 Draft, the Nets traded the rights to their first-round selection (Eddie Griffin) to the Houston Rockets for Richard Jefferson, Jason Collins, and Brandon Armstrong, and selected Brian Scalabrine in the second round. The trade was widely considered a smart move by the Nets as they needed to get younger and clear out much of ...
    Read More
    See Full Story
  • Bruce Ratner and Jay-Z.

    Sold to Bruce Ratner

    In 2004, after failing to secure a deal for a new arena in Newark, New Jersey (eventually a new arena, the Prudential Center, was built in Newark for the New Jersey Devils), the YankeeNets sold the franchise to a group headed by real estate developer Bruce Ratner for $300 million, beating out a group led by Charles Kushner and Jon ...
    Read More
    See Full Story

Who is the greatest New Jersey Nets?
  • Add your greatest player

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.

History of the Nets

The New Jersey Nets, formerly known as the New York Nets, have a long and storied history in the NBA. Founded in 1967 as part of the ABA, they joined the NBA after that league merged with it in 1976. The team has had its fair share of ups and downs over the years, but its most tremendous success came between 2001-2008 when they made back-to-back trips to the finals under coach Byron Scott. During this time, stars such as Jason Kidd, Vince Carter, and Richard Jefferson helped lead the New York Nets, later known as the New Jersey Nets, to become one of the best teams in basketball for a brief period before eventually losing out on both championship opportunities.

Since then, however, things haven’t been so rosy for New Jersey's favorite team; from 2009 - 2012, they struggled mightily due to injuries & poor roster decisions, which led them into rebuilding mode once again, starting the 2013 season onward, where current head coach Kenny Atkinson took charge & started building up young talent like Caris LeVert, who is now becoming an All-Star caliber player, leading his squad back into relevance and making the playoffs twice since the 2018 season onwards, even though they haven't advanced far enough yet.

Despite some rough patches along the way, the New Jersey Nets, formerly known as the New York Nets, are still considered one of the most profitable franchises currently competing at the highest level, thanks mainly to recent changes implemented by new management staff putting together competitive rosters while maintaining financial flexibility, allowing for future moves if needed. With the right pieces falling into place, New Jersey faithful will be hoping that this could finally be the year the franchise can make a deep run toward title contention, something fans have been waiting for quite some time now.

Sports Fan Products

Ultra Game Men's NBA Official Super Soft Supreme T-Shirt
4.7 out of 5 stars(47517300)
Buy on Amazon
Junk Food Clothing x NFL - Bold Logo - Short Sleeve Fan Shirt for Men and Women - Officially Licensed NFL Apparel
4.6 out of 5 stars(4655555)
Buy on Amazon
Champion Men's Sport Shorts, Moisture Wicking, Athletic Shorts, Gym Shorts (Reg. Or Big & Tall)
4.5 out of 5 stars(45517918)
Buy on Amazon
Ultra Game Men's NBA Official Soft Air Mesh Ultimate Basketball Shorts - OG Fit
4.7 out of 5 stars(47517654)
Buy on Amazon
Champion Men's Fleece Comfortable Hoodie, Sweatshirt for Men (Reg. Or Big & Tall)
4.7 out of 5 stars(47562121)
Buy on Amazon
Messi Boys' Lifestyle Short Sleeve Top, Slim-fit Shirt with Logo, Comfortable
4.7 out of 5 stars(47581)
Buy on Amazon
Junk Food Team Helmet NFL Shirt
4.7 out of 5 stars(4754725)
Buy on Amazon
Junk Food Clothing x NFL - Team Spotlight - Short Sleeve Fan Shirt for Men and Women - Officially Licensed NFL Apparel
4.6 out of 5 stars(4653931)
Buy on Amazon
Champion Men's Classic Jersey Muscle Tee, Script Logo
4.5 out of 5 stars(45520759)
Buy on Amazon
47 MLB Men's Team Color Distressed Imprint Primary Logo Wordmark Short Sleeve Baseball T-Shirt
4.6 out of 5 stars(4651107)
Buy on Amazon
Team Vintage Style Men's T-Shirt for Baseball Fans
4.6 out of 5 stars(465999)
Buy on Amazon
ATEEZ Official Tour Merch Hoodie
1.0 out of 5 stars(1051)
Buy on Amazon
Messi Boys' Lifestyle Short Sleeve T-Shirt, Slim-fit Logo Tee, Cotton Blend Fabric
4.7 out of 5 stars(475168)
Buy on Amazon
Gerber Girls' NFL Team Jersey Dress and Diaper Cover
4.8 out of 5 stars(4855436)
Buy on Amazon
Campus Colors NCAA Adult Gameday Cotton T-Shirt
4.6 out of 5 stars(46516090)
Buy on Amazon
Gerber NFL Unisex Baby Nfl Team Jersey Onesie Bodysuit
4.8 out of 5 stars(4853680)
Buy on Amazon
Ultra Game Men's Active Knit Basketball Training Shorts
4.6 out of 5 stars(465415)
Buy on Amazon
Gerber Baby NFL Team 3 Pack Short Sleeve Onesie Bodysuit
4.7 out of 5 stars(475151)
Buy on Amazon
WNBA Indiana Fever Logo T-Shirt
4.2 out of 5 stars(42533)
Buy on Amazon
Xtreme Apparrel Cityscape Skyline Men's T-Shirt for Baseball Fans
4.6 out of 5 stars(4654232)
Buy on Amazon
MLB Men's Imprint Match Team Color Primary Logo Word Mark T-Shirt
4.6 out of 5 stars(465887)
Buy on Amazon
MLB Kids Youth 4-20 Official City Headline Arch Logo Team T-Shirt
4.6 out of 5 stars(465227)
Buy on Amazon
Barnesmith Spirit Logo Adult Unisex Short-Sleeve T-Shirt
4.6 out of 5 stars(4652202)
Buy on Amazon
Champion, Lightweight Lounge, Casual Jersey Knit Men's, Weekend Shorts (Reg. Or Big & Tall)
4.4 out of 5 stars(44563796)
Buy on Amazon
Gerber Baby Girls' NFL Team 3 Pack Short Sleeve Onesie Bodysuit
4.8 out of 5 stars(48583)
Buy on Amazon
Auto Amazon Links

STH Greatest Player Polls Banner image NBA Logo

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

Sports History Group Videos

Sports History Group Videos

Sports News History

Sports News Worth Knowing

RSS NBA Headline News

  • OKC THUNDER ARE NBA CHAMPIONS 🏆
  • Send Devin to the Knicks I don’t see why not 🤷‍♂️
  • GET UP | Kevin Durant is going to Timberwolves! – ESPN gives major UPDATE on Suns-Wolves trade talks
  • Ace Bailey CANCELS PreDraft meeting with the Philadelphia 76ers – Locked On 76ers
  • The Orlando Magic Are GENIUSES…

Sports Store History

Sports Team Marketplace of Champions!

MLB Greatest Player

NBA Logo Battle

SLH Prodcut Sale

NBA Teams
Menu
  • Atlanta Hawks
    • St. Louis Hawks
    • Milwaukee Hawks
    • Tri-City Blackhawks
  • Boston Celtics
  • Brooklyn Nets
    • New Jersey Nets
    • New York Nets
    • New Jersey Americans
  • Charlotte Hornets
    • Charlotte Bobcats
  • Chicago Bulls
  • Cleveland Cavaliers
  • Dallas Mavericks
  • Denver Nuggets
    • Denver Rockets
  • Detroit Pistons
    • Fort Wayne Pistons
    • Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
  • Golden State Warriors
    • San Francisco Warriors
    • Philadelphia Warriors
  • Houston Rockets
    • San Diego Rockets
  • Indiana Pacers
  • Los Angeles Clippers
    • San Diego Clippers
    • Buffalo Braves
  • Los Angeles Lakers
    • Minneapolis Lakers
  • Memphis Grizzlies
    • Vancouver Grizzlies
  • Miami Heat
  • Milwaukee Bucks
  • Minnesota Timberwolves
  • New Orleans Pelicans
    • New Orleans Hornets
    • Charlotte Hornets
  • New York Knickerbockers
  • Oklahoma City Thunder
    • Seattle Supersonics
  • Orlando Magic
  • Philadelphia 76ers
    • Syracuse Nationals
  • Phoenix Suns
  • Portland Trailblazers
  • Sacramento Kings
    • Kansas City Kings
    • Cincinnati Royals
    • Rochester Royals
  • San Antonio Spurs
    • Texas Chaparrals
    • Dallas Chaparrals
  • Toronto Raptors
  • Utah Jazz
    • New Orleans Jazz
  • Washington Wizards
    • Washington Bullets
    • Capital Bullets
    • Baltimore Bullets
    • Chicago Zephyrs
    • Chicago Packers
  • Past Teams
    • Baltimore Bullets 1949
    • Chicago Stags
    • Cleveland Rebels
    • Denver Nuggets 1948
    • Detroit Falcons
    • Pittsburgh Ironmen
    • Providence Steamrollers
    • St. Louis Bombers
    • Toronto Huskies
    • Washington Capitols
STH - SHG YT Videos Banner
STH - SHG Rumble Videos Banner




Greatest Player Poll 350
National Football League LogoNational Basketball Associations LogoMajor League Baseball Logo 2019National Hockey League LogoNCAA Primary Logo

Greatest Player Poll: Cast your vote!

Join the debate and help decide who stands tall in the annals of sports history. Whether it's a legendary NFL's powerful action, the NBA's athletic prowess, or the unyielding spirit of an MLB player, we want to hear your thoughts. Who, in your opinion, has left an indelible mark on their sport? Who has transcended the boundaries of their game to become a symbol of excellence? Who has inspired generations of athletes and fans with their performances, character, and legacy? This is your chance to have your say. Cast your vote, share your thoughts, and celebrate the greatest in sports history together.

NFL Greatest Player
NBA Greatest Player
NHL Greatest Player
MLB Greatest Player
MLS Greatest Player
WNBA Greatest Player
CFL Greatest Player
Premier Greatest Player
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Search in posts
Search in pages

STH News

Latest Sports Team History News

The Fading Roar of the Colonels: Louisville’s Unforgettable ABA Era

July 11, 2025

Top 5 NFL Quarterbacks To Watch In 2025

July 10, 2025

Gridiron Geniuses: The 5 Greatest Head Coaches in NFL History

July 9, 2025

Iconic Team Hats: The Evolution of Team Headwear Through the Decades

July 1, 2025

Sports History Group 350
Sports Logo History
Sports News History
Sports Store History 200
Image

Complete Histories of Your Favorite Sports Team!


  • About
  • Contact
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy




© 2013 - 2025 Sports History Group LLC - All Rights Reserved
  • Sports History
    • Baseball History – MLB
    • Basketball History – ABA, NBA, WNBA
    • College History – Divison I Conferences
    • Football History – AAF, CFL, NFL, USFL, XFL
    • Hockey History – NHL
    • Soccer History. – MLS, Premier League
  • Hall of Fame
    • MLB
    • NBA
    • NFL
    • NHL
  • Greatest Player Polls
    • CFL Greatest Player
    • MLB Greatest Player
    • MLS Greatest Player
    • NBA Greatest Player
    • NFL Greatest Player
    • NHL Greatest Player
    • Premier League Greatest Player
    • WNBA Greatest Player
  • More…
    • Sports Team News
    • Latest Sports Videos
      • General Sports Videos
      • MLB Sports Videos
      • NBA Sports Videos
      • NCAA Sports Videos
      • NFL Sports Videos
      • NHL Sports Videos
      • Soccer Sports Videos
      • WNBA Sports Videos
    • YouTube Channel
    • Sports Team History Products
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.