Brooklyn Nets facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Brooklyn Nets
Conference	Eastern
Division	Atlantic
Founded	1967
History	New Jersey Americans 1967–1968 (ABA) New York Nets 1968–1976 (ABA) 1976–1977 (NBA) New Jersey Nets 1977–2012 Brooklyn Nets 2012–present
Arena	Barclays Center
Location	Brooklyn, New York
Team colors	Black, white, gray
Main sponsor	GetYourGuide
CEO	Sam Zussman
General manager	Sean Marks
Head coach	Jordi Fernández
Ownership	Joseph Tsai
Affiliation(s)	Long Island Nets
Championships	2 ABA: 2 (1974, 1976) NBA: 0
Conference titles	2 (2002, 2003)
Division titles	5 ABA: 1 (1974) NBA: 4 (2002, 2003, 2004, 2006)
Retired numbers	7 (3, 5, 15, 23, 25, 32, 52)
Association Icon Statement

The Brooklyn Nets are a professional basketball team from Brooklyn, New York. They play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Nets are part of the Eastern Conference and the Atlantic Division. Their home games are played at the Barclays Center. The Nets are one of two NBA teams in New York City, the other being the New York Knicks.

The team started in 1967 as the New Jersey Americans. They were part of a different league called the American Basketball Association (ABA). After one season, they moved to Long Island, New York, in 1968 and became the New York Nets. During this time, the Nets won two ABA championships in 1974 and 1976. In 1976, the ABA joined with the NBA. The Nets, along with three other ABA teams, became part of the NBA.

In 1977, the team moved back to New Jersey and were known as the New Jersey Nets until 2012. With star player Jason Kidd, the Nets reached the NBA Finals twice in a row (2002 and 2003). However, they did not win a championship. In 2012, the team moved to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. This made them the first major sports team in Brooklyn since the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team left in 1957. Since moving to Brooklyn, the Nets have made it to the playoffs eight times. They reached the conference semifinals in 2014 and 2021.

Team History: How the Nets Began

The Brooklyn Nets started in 1967 as the New Jersey Americans. They played their first games in Teaneck, New Jersey. In their early years, the team moved around a lot. In 1968, they moved to Long Island and played in different arenas there as the New York Nets.

A famous player named Julius Erving, also known as "Dr. J," led the Nets to win two ABA championships in New York. In 1976, the Nets were one of four ABA teams to join the NBA. The Nets had to pay a special fee to the New York Knicks because they were moving into an area where the Knicks already played. To help pay this fee, the Nets had to sell Erving's contract to another team. This meant the Nets went from being ABA champions in 1976 to having the worst record in the NBA in 1977. The team then moved back to New Jersey in 1977 and became the New Jersey Nets. While in New Jersey, the Nets played in two NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003, led by point guard Jason Kidd.

After playing 35 seasons in New Jersey, the team moved back to New York. They changed their name to the Brooklyn Nets and started playing in the new Barclays Center in the 2012–13 season. The NBA officially approved this move on April 13, 2012.

Who Are the Nets' Biggest Rivals?

Brooklyn Nets vs. Boston Celtics

In the early 2000s, the Nets, led by Jason Kidd and Kenyon Martin, had a strong rivalry with the Boston Celtics. The Celtics had stars like Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker. This rivalry became very intense during the 2002 playoffs. Fans from both teams would cheer loudly and sometimes even say mean things to each other. When the series moved to New Jersey, Nets fans responded to the Celtics fans' chants. The Nets, led by Kidd, won that series and went to the NBA Finals. The next year, in the 2003 playoffs, the Nets beat Boston again.

The rivalry showed signs of heating up again in 2012 when players from both teams got into arguments on the court. In 2019, the Nets signed Kyrie Irving, who had previously played for the Celtics. Many Celtics fans were not happy about how Irving left their team.

During games between the Celtics and Nets, fans often chanted about Irving. In Boston, Celtics fans chanted against him. When the series moved to Brooklyn, Nets fans chanted in support of Irving. In 2021, after a Nets victory, a fan threw a water bottle at Irving, showing how strong the feelings between the fan bases can be.

Brooklyn Nets vs. New York Knicks

The rivalry between the Knicks and Nets is mostly about geography. The Knicks play in Manhattan, and the Nets used to play in Long Island and New Jersey. Since 2012, the Nets have played in Brooklyn. This rivalry is like other New York City sports rivalries, such as the baseball rivalry between the New York Yankees and New York Mets. It's often called the "Clash of the Boroughs" because Manhattan and Brooklyn are different parts of New York City.

Brooklyn Nets vs. Toronto Raptors

The rivalry with the Toronto Raptors started in the 2000s. It became more noticeable in 2004 when Raptors player Vince Carter was traded to the New Jersey Nets. The teams first met in the playoffs in 2007. The Nets won that series. They met again in the 2014 playoffs, and the series went to seven games. The Nets won again with a game-winning block by Paul Pierce. Before that series, the Raptors' general manager made some comments about Brooklyn, which added to the excitement. The Raptors and Nets played each other again in the 2020 playoffs, with Toronto winning that series.

How the Nets Have Played Each Season

Here are the results for the Nets' last five seasons. For their full history, see List of Brooklyn Nets seasons.

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, W–L% = Winning percentage

Team Uniforms: A Look Through Time

New Jersey Americans Uniforms

When the team started in 1967, they wore white and red uniforms. The white uniforms had red, blue, and white stripes. The red uniforms had similar stripes.

New York Nets Uniforms

1968–1972: Early New York Look

When they moved to Long Island and became the New York Nets, they kept a similar uniform style. The white uniforms had "Nets" written in a fancy way. The red uniforms had "New York" in block letters.

1972–1977: Stars and Stripes Era

The Nets changed their uniforms when they moved to Nassau Coliseum. The white uniforms had a thick blue stripe with white stars. The blue uniforms had "New York" in white letters.

New Jersey Nets Uniforms

1977–1990: Carrying Over the Style

The "Stars and Stripes" uniform style continued when the team moved to New Jersey in 1977. The white uniform stayed the same. The blue uniform later added "New Jersey" inside the red stripe.

1990–1997: A New Look

The Nets changed their look again before the 1990–91 season. The white uniform had a modern "Nets" written in red. They also had red and blue stripes. They briefly wore light blue road uniforms that looked like tie-dye, but then switched to a solid blue.

1997–2012: Navy and Silver

Before the 1997–98 season, the Nets updated their colors to a darker red and navy blue with silver. The white uniform had the team name in navy. The navy uniform had the city name in silver. They also had a dark grey alternate uniform for a while. All these uniforms featured thick navy and silver patterns.

Brooklyn Nets Uniforms

The Brooklyn Nets' former main logo, used from 2012 to 2024.

2012–2017: Black and White Simplicity

When the team moved to Brooklyn in 2012, they chose a simple black and white uniform design. Both the white and black uniforms had "Brooklyn" written on the front. They also had special alternate uniforms. One grey uniform was a nod to the old Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team. Another white uniform brought back the "Stars and Stripes" look from the 1970s.

2017–Present: Nike Era and Special Designs

With the change to Nike uniforms, the Nets kept their main black and white look. The white became the "Association" uniform, and the black became the "Icon" uniform. They have had different "Statement" uniforms. The first had "BKLYN" in white. Later, a lighter grey uniform featured "BKLYN" in a graffiti style designed by Eric Haze. In 2022, the "Statement" uniform changed to black with silver trim and a subtle pattern.

The Nets also have "City" uniforms that change each season. These uniforms often celebrate Brooklyn's culture. For example, some designs honored a famous Brooklyn musician. Others featured designs inspired by the Brooklyn Bridge or the New York City Subway. The 2021–22 "City" uniform even combined elements from different uniforms throughout the Nets' history. The 2023–24 and 2024–25 "City" uniforms were designed in collaboration with Brooklyn artist Kaws, featuring colorful splashes.

Sometimes, the Nets also get "Earned" uniforms if they made it to the playoffs the year before. These uniforms have unique designs, like one inspired by the court at Barclays Center.

Team Culture: More Than Just a Game

Meet the Nets' Mascots

Cover of BrooklyKnight #1, a comic book given out at a Nets home game.

The New Jersey Nets used to have a mascot named Sly the Silver Fox, who started in 1997. Before Sly, their mascot was a dragon named Duncan.

When the Nets moved to Brooklyn, they introduced a new superhero mascot called BrooklyKnight in 2012. This name is a fun way to say "Brooklynite," which is someone from Brooklyn. BrooklyKnight was co-created by Marvel Entertainment. He even had his own comic book! After two seasons in Brooklyn, the BrooklyKnight mascot was retired. The Nets currently do not have a mascot.

The Nets' Team Anthem

In 2012, the Nets got a new team song called "Brooklyn: Something To Lean On." It was written by Brooklyn musician John Forté. The song is known for its catchy part where fans chant "Brooklyn" at the Barclays Center.

The Brooklyn Brigade: Superfans!

The Brooklyn Brigade is a group of very passionate Nets fans. They are known for their loud chants and strong support for the team. The group started in 2012. A fan named Udong "Bobby" Edemeka noticed the team needed more fan support in their new home. He started buying tickets for a small group of dedicated fans.

At first, the Nets organization didn't give the Brigade much special attention. But the CEO of the team liked their energy. Over time, the Brooklyn Nets started giving the Brigade special seats in Section 114 of the Barclays Center. This section is close to where the media sits, so the Brigade became well-known. The team's general manager, Sean Marks, also became a big supporter of the group. In 2018–19, Section 114 was officially reserved for passionate fans and called "The BK Block." Most members of the Brooklyn Brigade sit in this section.

Mr. Whammy: The Distractor!

Bruce Reznick, also known as "Mr. Whammy," is a famous 86-year-old Nets superfan. He has been a season ticket holder since 1998. Mr. Whammy is known for his special "whammy" move. He stands near the court and tries to distract opposing players when they are shooting free throws. He points, jumps, and yells. He doesn't "whammy" players who used to play for the Nets. Mr. Whammy believes his method works. The Barclays Center often has one of the lowest free throw percentages for opposing teams in the league. For example, in the 2022–23 season, opposing teams shot about 8% worse on free throws in Brooklyn than the league average.

Who Owns and Manages the Nets?

Team Ownership History

The first owner of the Nets was Arthur J. Brown in 1967. The next year, he sold the team to Roy Boe. Because the team was losing money, Boe moved them back to New Jersey in 1977. A year later, he sold the team to a group of seven local businessmen.

Later, in 1998, the team was sold to a new group of real estate developers. This group wanted to move the team to Newark, New Jersey. They even teamed up with the New York Yankees owner, George Steinbrenner, to form a company called YankeeNets. This company owned both teams and later the New Jersey Devils hockey team. They wanted to negotiate better TV deals together. YankeeNets also started its own sports TV channel, the YES Network.

However, YankeeNets couldn't agree on building a new arena in Newark. The different teams in the group also started having disagreements. So, the group decided to split up. The Nets were put up for sale again. In 2004, real estate developer Bruce Ratner bought the team. Ratner planned to move the team to a new arena in Brooklyn, which would be part of a big development project.

Famous rapper Jay-Z owned a small part of the Nets from 2003 to 2013. He helped promote the team and encouraged their move to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. He later sold his share to become a sports agent.

In 2009, Mikhail Prokhorov, a wealthy Russian businessman, announced he wanted to buy most of the Nets. He offered to buy the team for a small price. In return, Prokhorov helped fund a large loan for building the Barclays Center. In 2010, the NBA approved Prokhorov as the main owner of the Nets.

In 2017, Prokhorov agreed to sell a part of the team to Joseph Tsai. Tsai had the option to become the main owner later. He used this option in 2019 and also bought the Barclays Center arena from Prokhorov. The NBA approved Tsai as the new owner on September 18, 2019.

Where the Nets Play and Practice

Barclays Center in 2019

Home Arenas Through the Years

The Nets have played in many different arenas over their history:

Practice Facilities

The Nets' main practice facility is the Hospital for Special Surgery Training Center. It is located in the Industry City area of Brooklyn. This facility opened in 2016 and is built on the roof of a large warehouse. It cost about $50 million to build. This training center completed the Nets' move to Brooklyn.

Before this, the team practiced in New Jersey. Their previous facility was the PNY Center in East Rutherford. In 2012, after a big storm, the PNY Center was damaged. For several months, the team had to use smaller practice courts inside the Barclays Center.

Who Are the Nets' Top Players?

Current Roster

Players Whose Draft Rights Are Held

The Nets hold the rights to some players who were drafted but are currently playing outside the NBA. This means if these players decide to play in the NBA, the Nets would be the first team to sign them.

Draft Year	Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	Current Team	Notes	Ref
2019	2	60	Marinković, VanjaVanja Marinković	G/F	Serbia	Partizan Mozzart Bet (Serbia)	Acquired from the Sacramento Kings
2016	2	39	Michineau, DavidDavid Michineau	G	France	Bursaspor Yörsan (Turkey)	Acquired from the Sacramento Kings
2015	1	26	Milutinov, NikolaNikola Milutinov	C	Serbia	Olympiacos (Greece)	Acquired from the San Antonio Spurs
2015	2	49	White, AaronAaron White	F	United States	Toyama Grouses (Japan)	Acquired from the Washington Wizards

Nets All-Time Leaders

Bold means the player is still with the team. Italics means the player is still active but not with the team. "Name*" includes stats from both the ABA and NBA.

Points Scored (Regular Season)

Other Top Stats (Regular Season)

Retired Jersey Numbers

New York / New Jersey / Brooklyn Nets retired numbers hanging before a game in October 2018

The Nets have retired the jersey numbers of several important players. This means no other player on the team can wear that number.

• The NBA retired Bill Russell's No. 6 for all its teams on August 11, 2022.

Basketball Hall of Famers

Many players and coaches who were part of the Nets have been inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, which honors the greatest people in basketball history.

Awards and Honors for the Nets

NBA Awards

ABA Awards

NBA All-Star Weekend

ABA All-Star Game

ABA All-Star Game

• Julius Erving – 1974–1976
• Bill Melchionni – 1971–1973
• Billy Paultz – 1973–1975
• Rick Barry – 1971, 1972
• Larry Kenon – 1974, 1975
• Brian Taylor – 1975, 1976
• Tony Jackson – 1968
• Walt Simon – 1969
• Levern Tart – 1970

ABA All-Star Game Head Coaches

• Kevin Loughery – 1975, 1976

ABA Slam Dunk Contest

• Julius Erving – 1976

Nets' Minor League Team

The Nets have their own minor league team called the Long Island Nets. This team plays in the NBA G League, which is like a development league for the NBA. The Long Island Nets started playing in 2016. They played their first season at the Barclays Center and then moved to the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York.

How to Watch and Listen to the Nets

The Nets' games are shown on the YES Network television channel. The team helped create this channel when they were part of a larger company with the New York Yankees. Even after the teams separated, YES Network continued to broadcast Nets games.

You can also listen to Nets games on the radio. The main radio station for the Nets is WFAN. Other stations sometimes air the games if WFAN has other programs.

Television Announcers

Ian Eagle has been the main TV play-by-play announcer for the Nets since 2011. He started as the team's radio voice in 1994. Other announcers like Ryan Ruocco and Noah Eagle sometimes fill in for Ian. As of 2024, Sarah Kustok provides commentary, and Meghan Triplett reports from the sidelines.

Radio Announcers

Chris Carrino and Tim Capstraw are the radio announcers for the Nets. Chris Carrino does the play-by-play, and Tim Capstraw is the analyst.

See also

In Spanish: Brooklyn Nets para niños