Brooklyn Nets - Wikipedia

Main article: History of the Brooklyn Nets   Julius Erving (left) and Jason Kidd (right), are two of the most influential players in Nets history, representing the ABA championship era and early-2000s teams

The Nets were founded in 1967 and initially played in Teaneck, New Jersey, as the New Jersey Americans. In its early years, the team led a nomadic existence, moving to Long Island in 1968 and playing in various arenas there as the New York Nets.[14]

Led by Hall of Famer Julius Erving, the Nets won two ABA championships in New York before becoming one of four ABA teams to be admitted into the NBA as part of the ABA–NBA merger in 1976. Unlike the other three ABA teams entering the NBA, who played in cities without any NBA presence, the Nets were required to pay an "invasion fee" of $4.8 million (equivalent to $27 million in 2024) to the New York Knicks.[15] The team was forced to finance that payment by selling Erving's contract to the Philadelphia 76ers;[16] and the Nets went from winning the last ABA title in 1975–76 to having the worst record in the NBA in 1976–77. The team then moved back to New Jersey in 1977 and became the New Jersey Nets.[17][18]

During their time in the state, the Nets played in two consecutive NBA Finals in the 2001–02 and 2002–03 seasons, led by All-NBA point guard Jason Kidd, whose arrival helped transform the team into a perennial playoff contender.[19] The later acquisition of Vince Carter further strengthened the core that kept the Nets competitive in the Eastern Conference through the mid-2000s.[20] After playing 35 seasons in New Jersey, the team moved back to the state of New York, changed its geographic name to Brooklyn, and began playing in the new Barclays Center, starting with the 2012–13 NBA season.[12][21] The team's move from New Jersey to Brooklyn was approved unanimously by the NBA Board of Governors on April 13, 2012.[22] Since the relocation, the team has struggled to achieve consistent success, as major roster overhauls, including the trade that helped bring Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, and the later acquisitions of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, ultimately fell short of expectations.[23][24]