History of Brooklyn Nets in Timeline
The Brooklyn Nets are a professional basketball team in the NBA's Eastern Conference. Based in Brooklyn, New York City, they share the city with the New York Knicks. The Nets play their home games at Barclays Center.
1967: Team Formation and Early Years
The Brooklyn Nets, initially known as the New Jersey Americans, were established in 1967 and played their inaugural season in Teaneck, New Jersey.
1967: Arthur J. Brown Founds the Nets
Trucking magnate Arthur J. Brown founded the Brooklyn Nets franchise in 1967.
1967: New Jersey Americans Join the ABA
The New Jersey Americans, later known as the Brooklyn Nets, debuted in the ABA in 1967, sporting white and red uniforms with distinctive red, blue, and white stripes.
1967: Establishment of the franchise
The team that would become the Brooklyn Nets was founded in 1967 as the New Jersey Americans, a charter franchise in the American Basketball Association (ABA).
1968: Relocation and Name Change
In 1968, the team relocated to Long Island and adopted the name New York Nets.
1968: Relocation to Long Island
In 1968, the team relocated to Long Island, New York, and became the New York Nets.
1974: First ABA Championship
The New York Nets won their first ABA championship in 1974.
1975: Final ABA Championship
The Nets secured their final ABA championship in the 1975-1976 season.
1976: Nets Transition to NBA, Maintain Broadcast Partnership
The Nets continued their broadcasting agreement with WWOR-TV, then known as WOR-TV, when they joined the NBA in 1976 after their time in the ABA.
1976: Second ABA Championship and Merger with NBA
The Nets secured their second ABA championship title in 1976. This year also marked the ABA's merger with the NBA, leading to the Nets' absorption into the NBA.
1976: ABA-NBA Merger and Encroachment Fee
The Nets, along with three other ABA teams, were integrated into the NBA as part of the ABA-NBA merger in 1976. Unlike the others, the Nets had to pay a $4.8 million encroachment fee to the New York Knicks due to their location.
1977: Return to New Jersey
The Nets returned to New Jersey in 1977, becoming the New Jersey Nets.
1977: "Stars and Stripes" Uniform Moves to New Jersey
The Nets brought their iconic "Stars and Stripes" uniform to New Jersey in 1977, retaining the design but updating the blue uniform to read "Nets" and later adding "New Jersey" within the stripe.
1977: Roy Boe Moves the Nets to New Jersey
In 1977, Roy Boe, who had purchased the Brooklyn Nets, moved the team back to New Jersey due to financial struggles while the team was based on Long Island. He sold the team a year later to the "Secaucus Seven."
1977: Move Back to New Jersey
Following a challenging first season in the NBA, the Nets moved back to New Jersey in 1977, becoming the New Jersey Nets once again.
1981: Nets Debut New Uniforms at the Meadowlands
Upon relocating to the Meadowlands in 1981, the Nets briefly adopted a new uniform design. The white uniform featured the "Nets" script in blue with red trim, while the blue uniform displayed "New Jersey" in a similar style using red with white trim.
1990: Nets Reintroduce "Nets" Wordmark from 1990–1997 Uniforms
The Nets brought back the "Nets" wordmark and lettering from their 1990–1997 uniforms, adding a nostalgic touch to their 2021–22 "City" uniform.
1990: Nets Undergo Visual Rebrand
The Nets implemented a visual rebranding before the 1990-91 season, introducing a futuristic "Nets" script and incorporating red and blue stripes on their white uniforms. Initially, they wore white and light blue gradient road uniforms with a tie-dye effect, but later switched to solid blue.
1995: Ian Eagle Joins Nets Broadcast Team
Ian Eagle became part of the Brooklyn Nets' broadcast team in 1995, initially serving as the voice for their radio broadcasts.
October 31, 1997: Nets Introduce Sly the Silver Fox Mascot
The Nets introduced Sly the Silver Fox as their new mascot on October 31, 1997, coinciding with their rebranding efforts for the 1997–98 season. Sly replaced Duncan the Dragon, their previous mascot.
1997: Nets Introduce New Visual Identity
Prior to the 1997–98 season, the Nets unveiled a new visual identity, featuring a deeper red and navy color scheme accented with silver. They introduced white, navy, and dark grey uniforms, the latter being the only one to display the "NJ" alternate logo.
1997: Nets Reintroduce Elements from 1997–2009 Uniforms
The Nets reintroduced design elements from their 1997–2009 uniforms, including the navy base and white and silver argyle stripes.
1998: PNY Center Opens as Nets Practice Facility
The Brooklyn Nets opened their practice facility at the 65,000-square-foot PNY Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey, in 1998.
1998: Bruce "Mr. Whammy" Reznick Becomes a Season Ticket Holder
Bruce Reznick, known as "Mr. Whammy," became a Brooklyn Nets season ticket holder in 1998 when the team played at Continental Airlines Arena.
1998: Formation of YankeeNets
In 1998, the "Community Youth Organization," then owners of the Brooklyn Nets, entered into an agreement with New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner to create YankeeNets, a holding company aimed at owning both teams, and later the New Jersey Devils, to gain leverage in broadcast negotiations. YankeeNets later launched their own regional sports television network, the YES Network, after failing to secure a deal with other broadcast partners.
2000: Paul Pierce Stabbing Incident
In 2000, Paul Pierce was stabbed 11 times in a nightclub incident, which Nets fans referenced with signs reading "Will someone please stab Paul Pierce?" during the 2002 Eastern Conference Finals.
2001: Jason Kidd Domestic Abuse Charge
Jason Kidd faced a domestic abuse charge in 2001, leading to Celtics fans chanting "Wife Beater!" during the 2002 Eastern Conference Finals.
2001: First NBA Finals Appearance
Led by Jason Kidd, the New Jersey Nets reached their first NBA Finals in 2001.
2001: First NBA Finals Appearance as New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets, spearheaded by point guard Jason Kidd, reached their first NBA Finals in 2001.
2002: Second Consecutive NBA Finals Appearance
The Nets, under the leadership of Jason Kidd, made their second straight appearance in the NBA Finals in 2002.
2002: Second Consecutive NBA Finals Appearance as New Jersey Nets
The Nets, with Jason Kidd at the helm, made a second consecutive appearance in the NBA Finals in 2002.
2002: Nets-Celtics Rivalry Ignites
The rivalry between the Nets and the Boston Celtics intensified during the 2002 Eastern Conference Finals, fueled by trash-talking and on-court tensions that spilled into the stands.
2003: Nets Sweep Celtics in Playoffs
The Nets, led by Jason Kidd, swept the Boston Celtics in the 2003 playoffs.
2003: Jay-Z Acquires a Minority Stake in the Nets
Rapper Jay-Z acquired a small minority stake in the Brooklyn Nets in 2003.
2003: WFAN Becomes Nets' Radio Flagship
Following the conclusion of the 2003-2004 season, WFAN became the Brooklyn Nets' primary radio station, taking over from WOR.
2004: Bruce Ratner Purchases the Nets
In 2004, real estate developer Bruce Ratner purchased the Brooklyn Nets for $300 million, with plans to relocate the team to a new arena in Brooklyn as part of the Atlantic Yards development project.
2004: Vince Carter Trade Sparks Rivalry with Raptors
The rivalry between the Nets and the Toronto Raptors began in 2004 following the trade of Vince Carter from the Raptors to the Nets.
2005: Marv Albert Joins Nets Broadcast Team
In 2005, after his time with the New York Knicks ended, Marv Albert joined the Brooklyn Nets' broadcast team. He became the primary broadcaster, while Ian Eagle filled in when needed.
2006: Nets Retire Grey Alternate Uniform
The Nets retired their dark grey alternate uniform in 2006, concluding its use after several seasons.
2007: First Playoff Meeting with Raptors
The Nets and Raptors faced off in the playoffs for the first time in 2007, with the Nets winning the first-round series 4-2.
September 24, 2009: Mikhail Prokhorov Announces Intent to Become Majority Owner
On September 24, 2009, Russian businessman Mikhail Prokhorov, listed as Russia's third-richest man by Forbes, expressed his intention to become the majority owner of the Brooklyn Nets.
2009: Ian Eagle Returns as Lead Play-by-Play Announcer
By the 2009-2010 season, Ian Eagle reassumed the lead play-by-play role for Brooklyn Nets broadcasts due to Marv Albert's age and other commitments.
2009: Red Alternate Uniform Becomes Primary Dark Uniform
In 2009, the Nets promoted their red alternate uniform to the primary dark uniform, marking a shift in their on-court look.
2009: Nets Reintroduce Elements from 1997–2009 Uniforms
The Nets reintroduced design elements from their 1997–2009 uniforms, including the navy base and white and silver argyle stripes.
May 11, 2010: Prokhorov Becomes Principal Owner
On May 11, 2010, after receiving approval from other NBA team owners, Mikhail Prokhorov officially became the principal owner of the Brooklyn Nets.
2011: Brooklyn Nets Partner with Springfield Armor as D-League Affiliate
In 2011, the Brooklyn Nets established a unique "hybrid affiliation" with the Springfield Armor in the NBA Development League. This agreement granted the Nets control over coaching and player decisions while Springfield managed business operations. This innovative partnership garnered positive attention from other teams but ended after three seasons when the Armor was sold.
2011: Ian Eagle Becomes Nets' Primary Television Voice
With Marv Albert's departure in 2011, Ian Eagle, who first served as the team's radio announcer in 1995, took over as the lead television play-by-play announcer for the Brooklyn Nets.
April 13, 2012: Relocation to Brooklyn Approved
On April 13, 2012, the NBA Board of Governors unanimously approved the Nets' move from New Jersey to Brooklyn.
November 3, 2012: Nets Introduce BrooklyKnight Mascot
On November 3, 2012, the Nets introduced BrooklyKnight, a superhero mascot, to the public. BrooklyKnight was co-created by Marvel Entertainment and was even featured in a 32-page comic book.
November 2012: Brooklyn Brigade Fan Group Founded
The Brooklyn Brigade, a passionate fan group known for their enthusiastic chants and unwavering support for the Nets, was established in November 2012 by Bobby Edemeka. Edemeka, a dedicated Nets fan from Brooklyn, formed the group to cultivate a strong fan base for the team in their new home.
November 2012: Barclays Center Suffers Damage After Hurricane Sandy
In November 2012, following Hurricane Sandy, the Brooklyn Nets' home arena, Barclays Center, faced a power outage and significant water damage from flooding. As a result, the team had to relocate their training and practice to the smaller facilities within Barclays Center for several months.
November 28, 2012: On-Court Altercation Reignites Rivalry
An on-court altercation on November 28, 2012, resulting in the ejection of Rajon Rondo, Gerald Wallace, and Kris Humphries, reignited the rivalry between the Nets and the Celtics. Rondo received a two-game suspension, while Wallace and Kevin Garnett were fined.
2012: Nets Move to Brooklyn, Unveil New Uniforms
Upon relocating to Brooklyn in 2012, the Nets adopted a minimalist black and white uniform design featuring "Brooklyn" prominently. They also introduced three alternate uniforms: grey-sleeved with "Brooklyn" in Dodger blue, white-sleeved with "Stars and Stripes" elements, and dark grey sleeveless.
2012: Move to Brooklyn
The team moved to Barclays Center in Brooklyn in 2012, becoming the Brooklyn Nets.
2012: Nets Move to Brooklyn, Sparking "Clash of the Boroughs" Rivalry
The Nets' move to Brooklyn in 2012 ignited a geographic rivalry with the New York Knicks, dubbed the "Clash of the Boroughs" due to their proximity in the New York City subway system.
2012: Nets Reimagine 1997–2012 Shield Logo
The Nets reimagined their 1997–2012 shield logo, incorporating their current "B" alternate logo, and featured it on the waist of their 2021–22 "City" uniform.
2013: Jay-Z Sells His Stake in the Nets
Jay-Z sold his minority stake in the Brooklyn Nets in 2013 to avoid potential conflicts of interest after registering as a sports agent with his agency, Roc Nation Sports.
2013: Nets Debut Grey-Sleeved Alternate Uniform
The Nets introduced a grey-sleeved alternate uniform with "Brooklyn" in Dodger blue as a tribute to the Brooklyn Dodgers.
2014: Brett Yomark Recognizes the Brigade's Impact
During the 2014 Eastern Conference semi-finals, Brett Yomark, CEO of the Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center, observed the Brooklyn Brigade's impact on the arena's atmosphere and began distributing Nets apparel in Section 114.
2014: The Brooklyn Brigade Gains Recognition
In 2014, the Brooklyn Brigade, a fan group, started to gain recognition from the Brooklyn Nets organization. Initially, the Brigade purchased tickets in various sections of the arena. However, after noticing the group's enthusiasm, the Nets began assigning them seats in Section 114, adjacent to the press booth, giving them regional and national exposure.
2014: Eastern Conference Semifinals
The Brooklyn Nets reached the Eastern Conference Semifinals in 2014.
November 6, 2015: Brooklyn Nets Introduce Long Island Nets D-League Team
The Brooklyn Nets announced the acquisition of a new D-League team, named the Long Island Nets, on November 6, 2015. The team initially played at Barclays Center and then transitioned to the renovated Nassau Coliseum in 2017, becoming the 12th D-League team under NBA ownership.
February 17, 2016: Hospital for Special Surgery Training Center Opens
The Hospital for Special Surgery Training Center, a 70,000-square-foot facility located in the Industry City complex in Brooklyn's Sunset Park neighborhood, opened on February 17, 2016, to house the Brooklyn Nets' practice facility and basketball operations headquarters. This marked the completion of the Nets' move to Brooklyn.
2016: Long Island Nets Begin Play at Barclays Center
In 2016, The Long Island Nets, the Brooklyn Nets' D-League affiliate, commenced their inaugural season, playing their home games at Barclays Center.
2016: Sean Marks Supports the Brigade
In 2016, newly appointed Nets general manager Sean Marks expressed immediate support for the Brooklyn Brigade fan group.
2017: Nets Debut Black "City" Uniform
The Nets introduced a black "City" uniform for the 2017–18 season, showcasing the full team name in white alongside grey accents inspired by the Brooklyn Bridge.
2017: Long Island Nets Relocate to Nassau Coliseum
The Long Island Nets moved to their new home, the newly renovated Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York, in 2017.
2017: Prokhorov Agrees to Sell Minority Stake to Joseph Tsai
In late 2017, Mikhail Prokhorov agreed to sell a 49% stake in the Brooklyn Nets to Joseph Tsai, with an option for Tsai to later acquire majority ownership.
2018: The BK Block is Established
During the 2018–19 season, the Brooklyn Nets designated section 114 as "The BK Block," a dedicated area for passionate fans, primarily composed of Brooklyn Brigade members.
August 2019: Joseph Tsai Exercises Option to Become Majority Owner
Joseph Tsai exercised his option to become the majority owner of the Brooklyn Nets in August 2019, purchasing the remaining stake from Mikhail Prokhorov. In a separate deal, Tsai also acquired the Nets' home arena, Barclays Center, from Prokhorov for almost $1 billion.
September 18, 2019: Joseph Tsai Becomes Majority Owner of the Brooklyn Nets
On September 18, 2019, Joseph Tsai, executive vice chairman of Alibaba Group, finalized his acquisition of full ownership of the Brooklyn Nets, becoming the NBA Governor of the team and its affiliates. David Levy, former president of Turner Broadcasting, was appointed CEO of the Nets and Barclays Center but stepped down less than two months later. Oliver Weisberg, president of Tsai's J Tsai Sports, assumed the interim CEO role.
2019: Fan Chants Target Kyrie Irving
During the 2019-20 season, Celtics fans chanted "Kyrie sucks" at TD Garden, while Nets fans responded with "Kyrie's better" chants in Brooklyn, highlighting the ongoing tension between Irving and his former team.
2019: Nets Update "Statement" Uniform with Eric Haze Design
In 2019, the Nets updated their "Statement" uniform, changing the base color to lighter grey and incorporating black/dark grey stripes. The "BKLYN" inscription was redesigned in a graffiti style by Eric Haze.
2019: Kyrie Irving Signs with the Nets
The Nets signed point guard Kyrie Irving in the 2019 NBA off-season. Irving's move from the Celtics to the Nets added fuel to the rivalry between the two teams, with some Celtics fans blaming Irving for the team's struggles.
2019: Nets Introduce White "Biggie" Uniforms
The Nets unveiled white versions of their "Biggie" uniforms for the 2019–20 season, featuring Haze-designed "BED-STUY" graffiti lettering as a tribute to The Notorious B.I.G.'s hometown.
2020: Raptors Defeat Nets in Playoffs
The Toronto Raptors defeated the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the 2020 NBA playoffs.
2020: Nets Honor Jean-Michel Basquiat with "City" Uniform
The Nets' 2020–21 "City" uniform paid homage to Brooklyn-born artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, featuring a predominantly black design with "BKLYN NETS" in Basquiat's signature style and multi-colored striping.
2020: Nets Debut "Earned" Uniform for Playoff Qualification
Having secured a spot in the 2020 NBA playoffs, the Nets received an exclusive "Earned" uniform. The design showcased the herringbone parquet pattern of the Barclays Center court in black and grey shades, complemented by Helvetica lettering inspired by New York City Subway signage.
May 30, 2021: Water Bottle Incident
Following a Nets victory and a 3-1 series lead, a fan at TD Garden threw a water bottle at Kyrie Irving after he stomped on the Celtics logo center court.
2021: Eastern Conference Semifinals
The Brooklyn Nets reached the Eastern Conference Semifinals in 2021.
2021: Nets' "City" Uniform Celebrates Uniform History
The Nets' "City" uniform for the 2021–22 season served as a tribute to the franchise's uniform history, incorporating elements from previous designs, such as the navy base and argyle stripes from the 1997–2009 uniforms and the "Stars and Stripes" motif from the 1970s and 1980s.
2022: Mr. Whammy's Impact on the 2022-23 Season
During the 2022-23 NBA season, Barclays Center, home of the Brooklyn Nets, consistently recorded one of the lowest opposing team free throw percentages in the league, partly attributed to the distracting antics of superfan "Mr. Whammy."
2022: Nets Reintroduce Basquiat-Inspired "City" Uniform in White
The Nets brought back their Basquiat-inspired "City" uniform in the 2022–23 season, this time featuring a white base.
2022: Nets Introduce New "Statement" Uniform
The Nets unveiled a new iteration of their "Statement" uniform in 2022, featuring a black base, black lettering with silver trim, and subtle greyscale herringbone striping with three black stars on the left.
January 11, 2023: Mr. Whammy's Impact on Free Throw Percentages
By January 11, 2023, opposing teams playing against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center had a free throw shot percentage of only 70.3, approximately eight points lower than the league average for the 2022–23 NBA season. This low percentage is attributed to the presence of "Mr. Whammy," a superfan known for distracting opponents during free throws.
2023: Nets Collaborate with Kaws for "City" Uniform
The Nets teamed up with Brooklyn-based artist Kaws for their 2023–24 "City" uniform, featuring a predominantly dark grey design with splashes of color inspired by Kaws' "Tension" series. The stylized "Nets" wordmark also drew inspiration from Kaws' distinctive graphic style.
September 20, 2024: Nets' Finalize Roster
On September 20, 2024, the Brooklyn Nets completed their roster for the upcoming season, marking the end of their roster construction period.
2024: Brooklyn Nets Announce 2024 Broadcast Team
As of 2024, the Brooklyn Nets' YES Network broadcasts feature a lineup of commentators including Sarah Kustok, Ian Eagle, Ryan Ruocco, and Noah Eagle. Meghan Triplett serves as the courtside reporter.