History of Brooklyn Nets in Timeline

The Brooklyn Nets are a professional basketball team based in Brooklyn, New York City. They compete in the NBA as part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference, playing their home games at Barclays Center. The Nets are one of two NBA teams located in New York City.

1957: Brooklyn Dodgers Departure

In 1957, the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team departed from Brooklyn.

1967: Franchise Founded

In 1967, the Brooklyn Nets were founded and initially played in Teaneck, New Jersey, as the New Jersey Americans.

1967: Founding of the Nets franchise

In 1967, the Nets franchise was founded by trucking magnate Arthur J. Brown.

1967: Club established as New Jersey Americans

In 1967, the club was established as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association (ABA) and was named the New Jersey Americans.

1967: Inaugural Uniforms

In 1967, upon debuting in the ABA, the New Jersey Americans wore white and red uniforms with distinct striping and lettering.

1968: Move to Long Island

In 1968, the New Jersey Americans moved to Long Island and played in various arenas there as the New York Nets.

1968: Relocation to Long Island and name change

In 1968, the New Jersey Americans relocated to Long Island, New York, and changed their name to the New York Nets.

1974: ABA Championship

In 1974, the New York Nets won an ABA championship.

1975: ABA Title

In the 1975–76 season, the New York Nets won the last ABA title.

1976: Road telecasts continue

In 1976, after the Nets joined the NBA, WWOR-TV continued airing road games.

1976: ABA-NBA Merger and Erving's departure

In 1976, the Nets were admitted into the NBA as part of the ABA–NBA merger, and were required to pay an "encroachment fee" to the New York Knicks and sold Erving's contract.

1976: ABA Championship and NBA merger

In 1976, the New York Nets won their second ABA championship, and the ABA merged with the NBA, absorbing the Nets into the NBA.

1977: "Stars and Stripes" Uniforms in New Jersey

In 1977, the Nets carried the "Stars and Stripes" uniform to New Jersey, with slight modifications to the blue uniform.

1977: Nets move back to New Jersey

In 1977, the Nets moved back to New Jersey due to financial losses while on Long Island.

1981: Uniform Change

In 1981, upon moving to the Meadowlands, the Nets briefly changed their uniform set, bringing back the "Nets" script but with a blue and red color scheme.

1990: Visual Rebrand

Before the 1990–91 season, the Nets underwent a visual rebrand featuring a futuristic "Nets" script and gradient road uniforms.

1990: Wordmark Reference in City Edition Uniform

In the 2021-2022 season, the "Nets" wordmark and lettering of the City Edition Uniform were taken from the 1990-1997 uniforms.

1995: Ian Eagle becomes lead TV voice

In 1995, Ian Eagle became the lead television voice for the Nets after serving as the team's radio voice for one year.

October 31, 1997: Debut of Sly the Silver Fox

On October 31, 1997, Sly the Silver Fox debuted as the mascot of the New Jersey Nets, as part of the rebranding for the 1997–98 season.

1997: Argyle Stripe Reference in City Edition Uniform

In the 2021-2022 season, the navy base and white and silver argyle stripes of the City Edition Uniform recalled the 1997-2009 uniforms.

1997: Visual Identity Update

Prior to the 1997–98 season, the Nets updated their visual identity with a deeper red and navy scheme with silver accents.

1998: Mr. Whammy becomes a season ticket holder

In 1998, Bruce Reznick, also known as "Mr. Whammy", became a Nets season ticket holder.

1998: Sale to Community Youth Organization

In 1998, the "Secaucus Seven" sold the team to a group of local real estate developers called the "Community Youth Organization", who wanted to move the team to Newark, New Jersey.

1998: Opening of PNY Center

In 1998, the Nets' practice facility, the 65,000-square-foot PNY Center, opened in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

2000: Paul Pierce's Stabbing Incident

In 2000, Paul Pierce was stabbed 11 times in a nightclub incident, which was referenced by Nets fans during the 2002 Eastern Conference Finals.

2001: Jason Kidd's Domestic Abuse Charge

In 2001, Jason Kidd faced a domestic abuse charge, which became a point of contention during the 2002 Eastern Conference Finals against the Celtics.

2001: NBA Finals Appearance

In 2001–02 NBA season, led by Jason Kidd, the New Jersey Nets reached the NBA Finals.

2002: Eastern Conference Finals

In 2002, the Nets and Celtics rivalry heated up during the Eastern Conference Finals, marked by trash-talking and fan incidents, including taunts about Jason Kidd's domestic abuse charge and threats against Paul Pierce.

2002: NBA Finals Appearance

In 2002–03 NBA season, led by Jason Kidd, the New Jersey Nets reached the NBA Finals for the second consecutive season.

2003: Jay-Z acquires minority stake

In 2003, Rapper Jay-Z acquired a small minority stake in the Nets.

2003: WFAN Assumes Radio Rights

In 2003, WFAN became the Nets' radio flagship station, taking over the radio rights from WOR following the 2003-04 season.

2003: Playoff Sweep of Boston

In 2003, the Nets swept Boston in the playoffs following their heated rivalry during the 2002 Eastern Conference Finals.

2004: Sale to Bruce Ratner

In 2004, real estate developer Bruce Ratner bought the Nets for $300 million, intending to move the team to a new arena in Brooklyn.

2004: Carter Traded to Nets

In 2004, the Toronto Raptors and New Jersey Nets rivalry began after Vince Carter was traded to the New Jersey Nets.

2005: Marv Albert joins Nets broadcast team

In 2005, Marv Albert joined the Nets broadcast team, becoming the lead broadcaster with Ian Eagle as his substitute.

2006: End of Dark Grey Alternate Uniform

Until 2006, the Nets used a dark grey alternate uniform.

2007: Playoff Victory Over Raptors

In 2007, the Nets defeated the Raptors in the first round of the playoffs, 4 games to 2, highlighted by a game-winning shot by Richard Jefferson.

September 24, 2009: Prokhorov confirms intention to become majority owner

On September 24, 2009, Mikhail Prokhorov confirmed his intention to become majority owner of the Nets.

2009: Ian Eagle assumes lead play-by-play spot

Beginning in the 2009-10 season, Ian Eagle reassumed the lead play-by-play spot due to Marv Albert's advancing age and other commitments.

2009: Red Alternate Uniform

In 2009, the red alternate uniform became the primary dark uniform, replacing the grey alternate.

2009: Argyle Stripe Reference in City Edition Uniform

In the 2021-2022 season, the navy base and white and silver argyle stripes of the City Edition Uniform recalled the 1997-2009 uniforms.

May 11, 2010: Prokhorov becomes principal owner of the Nets

On May 11, 2010, Mikhail Prokhorov became the principal owner of the Nets.

2011: Ian Eagle sole TV play-by-play announcer

In 2011, Ian Eagle became the sole television play-by-play announcer for the Nets after Marv Albert's departure.

2011: Agreement with Springfield Armor

In 2011, the Nets signed an agreement with the Springfield Armor to become its exclusive NBA Development League affiliate.

April 13, 2012: Move to Brooklyn Approved

On April 13, 2012, the NBA Board of Governors unanimously approved the team's move from New Jersey to Brooklyn.

November 3, 2012: Introduction of BrooklyKnight

On November 3, 2012, the Brooklyn Nets introduced BrooklyKnight, a superhero mascot, at the Barclays Center. The mascot was co-created by Marvel Entertainment.

November 2012: Hurricane Sandy damages PNY Center

In November 2012, Hurricane Sandy caused a power outage and extensive water damage to the PNY Center, forcing the Nets to use smaller training spaces inside the Barclays Center.

November 2012: Founding of the Brooklyn Brigade

In November 2012, Udong "Bobby" Edemeka founded the Brooklyn Brigade, a group of passionate Nets fans known for their loud chants.

November 28, 2012: On-Court Altercation

On November 28, 2012, an on-court altercation during a game led to the ejection of Rajon Rondo, Gerald Wallace, and Kris Humphries, potentially rekindling the Nets-Celtics rivalry.

2012: Shield Logo Reference in City Edition Uniform

In the 2021-2022 season, the 1997–2012 shield logo, also tweaked to feature the current "B" alternate logo, was added on the waist of the City Edition Uniform.

2012: Move to Brooklyn

In the summer of 2012, the New Jersey Nets moved to Barclays Center in Brooklyn, becoming the first major sports franchise in the borough since 1957.

2012: Move to Brooklyn and New Uniforms

Upon moving to Brooklyn in 2012, the Nets adopted a simple black and white uniform design with "Brooklyn" in front.

2013: Jay-Z relinquishes stake in the Nets

In 2013, Jay-Z relinquished his stake in the Nets after registering as a sports agent. His shares were eventually sold to Will Pan.

2013: Grey-Sleeved Alternate Uniform

In 2013, the Nets first used a grey-sleeved alternate uniform with "Brooklyn" in Dodger blue as a visual recall to the Brooklyn Dodgers.

2014: CEO Brett Yomark notices the Brigade's effect

During the 2014 conference semifinals, Brooklyn Nets CEO Brett Yomark noticed the Brigade's effect on the arena.

2014: Nets assign seats to the Brooklyn Brigade

During the 2014-15 season, the Brooklyn Nets organization began assigning seats to the Brooklyn Brigade in Section 114 of the Barclays Center.

2014: Conference Semifinals Appearance

In 2014, after moving to Brooklyn, the Nets qualified for the playoffs and made a trip to the Conference Semifinals.

November 6, 2015: Nets purchase D-League team

On November 6, 2015, the Nets announced that they had purchased a new D-League team to be called the Long Island Nets.

2015: Islanders at Barclays Center

From 2015 to 2021, the New York Islanders inhabited the Barclays Center, adding a similar dimension to the rivalry between the Knicks and Nets.

February 17, 2016: Opening of HSS Training Center

On February 17, 2016, the Nets' practice facility, the Hospital for Special Surgery Training Center, opened in Brooklyn.

2016: Sean Marks supports the Brooklyn Brigade

In 2016, Sean Marks was hired as the Nets' general manager and became an immediate supporter of the Brooklyn Brigade.

2016: Long Island Nets play at Barclays Center

In 2016, the Long Island Nets played their home games at the Barclays Center.

2017: Long Island Nets play at Nassau Coliseum

In 2017, the Long Island Nets played their home games at the Nassau Coliseum after renovations were completed.

2017: Prokhorov agrees to sell stake to Joseph Tsai

In late 2017, Mikhail Prokhorov agreed to sell a 49% stake in the team to Joseph Tsai, with an option for Tsai to become the majority owner.

2017: "City" Uniform Featuring Brooklyn Bridge Inspiration

In the 2017–18 season, the Nets' "City" uniform was black and featured the full team name spelled in white along with grey accents inspired from the Brooklyn Bridge.

2018: "The BK Block" reserved for passionate fans

During the 2018-19 season, the Nets reserved section 114 for passionate fans, calling it "The BK Block," which primarily consisted of Brigade members.

August 2019: Tsai exercises option to become majority owner

In August 2019, Joseph Tsai exercised his option to become the majority owner of the Nets and bought the Barclays Center.

September 18, 2019: Joseph Tsai acquires full ownership of the Nets

On September 18, 2019, Joseph Tsai completed the acquisition of full ownership of the Brooklyn Nets, becoming NBA Governor of the Nets. David Levy was named CEO, but would step down less than two months later.

2019: Fan Chants

During a regular season game in the 2019–20 season, Celtics' fans chanted "Kyrie sucks" which led to Nets' fans chanting "Kyrie's better" in response.

2019: "City" Uniform as Tribute to Notorious B.I.G.

For the 2019-20 NBA season, the "City" uniform was replaced with a black uniform featuring stylized Brooklyn camo patterns as a tribute to the Notorious B.I.G.

2019: "Statement" Uniform Update

In 2019, the "Statement" uniform was updated to a lighter grey base and black/dark grey stripes, with "BKLYN" written in graffiti style designed by Eric Haze.

2019: Signing of Kyrie Irving

In the 2019 NBA off-season, the Nets signed point guard Kyrie Irving, who was described as selfish by many critics.

2020: "City" Uniform Homage to Bedford–Stuyvesant

For the 2020–21 NBA season, the Nets wore white versions of the "Biggie" uniforms, but with Haze-designed "BED-STUY" graffiti lettering in front.

2020: "Earned" uniform release

In 2020, the Nets qualified for the NBA playoffs and were given an "Earned" uniform. The design featured the herringbone parquet style of the Barclays Center court in shades of black and grey.

2020: Playoff Loss to Raptors

In the 2020 NBA playoffs, the Raptors defeated the Nets in the first round, four games to none.

May 30, 2021: Fan Incident

On May 30, 2021, following a Nets victory against the Celtics, a fan threw a water bottle at Kyrie Irving after he stomped on the Celtics center-court logo.

2021: Islanders Depart Barclays Center

From 2015 to 2021, the New York Islanders inhabited the Barclays Center.

2021: Conference Semifinals Appearance

In 2021, the Nets qualified for the playoffs and made a trip to the Conference Semifinals.

2021: "City" Uniform with Historical References

In the 2021–22 season, the Nets' "City" uniform featured visual references to the Nets' uniform history, including elements from the 1997–2009, 1990–97, and 1970s/1980s uniforms.

2022: Opposing free throw percentage in Brooklyn

As part of the 2022-23 NBA season, opposing teams had a 70.3 free throw shot percentage in Brooklyn by January 11, 2023, which was about eight points lower than league average.

2022: "Statement" Uniform Change

In 2022, the Nets changed its "Statement" uniform, this time with a black base, black letters with silver trim, and a subtle greyscale herringbone striping with three black stars on the left.

2022: Return of Basquiat-Inspired "City" Uniform

The Basquiat-inspired "City" uniform returned in 2022–23 but in a white base.

January 11, 2023: Opposing free throw percentage in Brooklyn

By January 11, 2023, opposing teams had a 70.3 free throw shot percentage in Brooklyn, about eight points lower than the league average for the 2022-23 NBA season.

2023: Equivalent Value of Encroachment Fee

In 1976, the Nets were required to pay an "encroachment fee" of $4.8 million to the New York Knicks, which is equivalent to $26 million in 2023.

2023: City uniform collaboration with Kaws

In 2023, the Brooklyn Nets "City" uniform featured a collaboration with Brooklyn-based artist Kaws. The design incorporated dark grey with splashes of light grey, blue, turquoise, and pink, inspired by Kaws' "Tension" series.

2024: YES Network broadcast team

As of 2024, Sarah Kustok, Ian Eagle, Ryan Ruocco, and/or Noah Eagle provide color commentary on YES Network broadcasts, with Meghan Triplett as courtside reporter.