Nets 60th Season Celebration

1967 – 1976

THE ABA ERA

Championship Pedigree

The Nets were born from innovative beginnings. In 1967, trucking executive Arthur J. Brown chartered the New Jersey Americans, an original team in the upstart American Basketball Association. One year later, the team was rechristened the New York Nets, moving to Long Island. The Nets became a signature ABA team, with standout stars like Bill Melchionni, “Super” John Williamson, and Julius “Dr. J” Erving. Led by Dr. J’s electric play, the Nets won the ABA title in the 1973-74 season. They did it again two seasons later, securing the final ABA title in league history. The Nets’ popularity fortified the credibility of the ABA, helping solidify the 1976 NBA-ABA merger and setting the stage for the way the game is played today.

1980 – 1989

THE 1980s

A New Jersey Hope

Following a relocation to New Jersey in 1977, the Nets experienced a turbulent first few seasons in the NBA. But the team found stability at the turn of the decade, building a proud, close-knit identity. Powered by a young core of Buck Williams, Otis Birdsong, Albert King, Mike Gminski, and Darwin Cook, the Nets brought NBA glory to the Garden State by making the playoffs in the 1981-1982 season. The following season, the Nets traded for Darryl “Chocolate Thunder” Dawkins, adding a powerful physical presence to their frontcourt. The team went on to have its best season of the decade, winning 49 games and returning to the playoffs. New Jersey’s run of success stretched into the second half of the decade, with five consecutive playoff appearances from 1981-82 to 1985-86.

1990 – 1999

THE 1990s

Star Power in the Meadowlands

The decade started with promise for the Nets, who secured the No. 1 pick in the 1990 NBA Draft and selected Derrick Coleman, the 1991 NBA Rookie of the Year and one of many franchise greats in New Jersey during the 1990s. With the No. 2 pick the following year, the Nets added Kenny Anderson. A three-team trade brought sharpshooting guard Dražen Petrović, rounding out a young trio that vaulted them back to a winning record and a postseason appearance in 1992–93. Tragedy struck that offseason when Petrović lost his life in a 1993 car accident. The Nets searched for an identity, nearly rebranding as the Swamp Dragons, underscoring an appetite for reinvention and creativity. They closed with splashy moves, selecting Kerry Kittles No. 8 in 1996 and trading for No. 2 pick Keith Van Horn in 1997.

2000 – 2009

THE 2000s

Eastern Conference Elite

Piece by piece, everything clicked in the new millennium. In 2000, forward Kenyon Martin was selected No. 1 in the draft. In 2001, a draft-night trade for Richard Jefferson and Jason Collins filled out the roster, while a trade for point guard Jason Kidd unlocked a thrilling offense. The Nets rolled to 52 wins in 2001-02 and, in the ensuing playoffs, electrified fans en route to their first Eastern Conference Championship. They repeated the feat the following season, appearing in back-to-back NBA Finals. A slow start in 2004-05 prompted a bold trade for Vince Carter, whose high-flying theatrics alongside Kidd and Jefferson helped secure a fourth consecutive playoff appearance. The 2000s saw six playoff appearances, four Atlantic Division titles, and two Eastern Conference Championships.

2010 – 2012

HELLO BROOKLYN

A New Era Arrives

With a collective of intriguing young players (including franchise standout Brook Lopez) on the roster at the turn of the decade, the Nets formally declared their intent to relocate to Brooklyn in 2010. The move was met with immediate buzz, fueled by a rebrand designed alongside minority owner Jay-Z. Ahead of the first season in Brooklyn (2012-13), the Nets remained active, trading for Joe Johnson, a powerful complement to recently-acquired point guard Deron Williams. Barclays Center opened to raucous energy as the hometown Nets won their first game 107-100 on November 3, 2012. Following a strong second-half surge, the inaugural season in Brooklyn Nets history ended with a postseason berth, signaling the return to professional sports in Brooklyn.

2013 – 2019

STARS ARRIVE, PROSPECTS EMERGE

Brooklyn Makes Moves

The Nets’ success took an intriguing turn in 2013, with a blockbuster trade bringing NBA Champions Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to Brooklyn. The bet paid early dividends, powered by a lineup shift from coach Jason Kidd following an injury to Brook Lopez. The Nets rode a late season surge to a second consecutive playoff appearance where Kidd became the NBA’s first rookie coach to win a Game 7 and the team earned an appearance in the conference semifinals. Moving into the back half of the decade, Brooklyn made a trade for Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell while simultaneously developing a squad of talented young players in Caris LeVert, Jarrett Allen, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Joe Harris. That homegrown squad closed the decade on a high note, earning the #6 seed in the 2019 playoffs.

2019 – 2022

ALL EYES ON BROOKLYN

The “Big 3” Brings Promise to the Borough

The NBA landscape was shook. Ahead of the 2019-20 season, All-Stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving announced they would play next in Brooklyn. The Nets made the playoffs in the duo’s first season, despite Durant missing the season due to injury. The team went all in the following year, making an early season trade to acquire former MVP James Harden to complete Brooklyn’s “Big 3.” The trio became the first set of three Nets teammates to make the All-Star team in the same season and led the team to the #2 seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. The Nets lost a heartbreaker in Game 7 of the conference semifinals, with Durant’s game-winning 3 downgraded to a 2-pointer, and the Nets falling in OT. While the “Big 3” era fell short of the team’s ultimate goal, it reflected Brooklyn’s legacy of reinvention and unwavering commitment to boldness.

Today

A NEW ERA RISES

In Brooklyn We Trust

From championship beginnings to era-defining superstars and plenty of iconic moments, the Nets’ DNA is defined by bold moves and creative expression both on and off the court. As the Nets enter their 60th season, we remain committed to those qualities, putting together our next era with a foundational coach in Jordi Fernández, promising young players like Egor Dëmin and Mikel Brown Jr., and proven veterans Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle. To the Nets World faithful: thank you for being part of a community that values culture over conformity and grit over entitlement. Here’s to the next 60 seasons and beyond.