What Happened to New Jersey Nets?
The New Jersey Nets were a professional basketball team that originated in the ABA in 1967 and later joined the NBA. After decades in New Jersey, the franchise relocated to Brooklyn, New York, in 2012, rebranding as the Brooklyn Nets and moving into the new Barclays Center. The team continues to operate as the Brooklyn Nets, currently in a rebuilding phase as of August 2026.
Quick Answer
The New Jersey Nets relocated to Brooklyn, New York, in 2012 and were rebranded as the Brooklyn Nets. The move was driven by a desire to tap into the larger New York media market and coincided with the opening of the state-of-the-art Barclays Center. As of August 2026, the team is known as the Brooklyn Nets, competing in the NBA's Eastern Conference, and is currently undergoing a rebuilding process with a focus on young talent.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline15 events
Franchise Founded as New Jersey Americans
The team was established as a charter member of the American Basketball Association (ABA).
Relocated to Long Island, Renamed New York Nets
The team moved to Long Island, New York, and changed its name to the New York Nets.
Won First ABA Championship
Led by Julius Erving, the New York Nets defeated the Utah Stars to win their first ABA title.
Won Second ABA Championship
The New York Nets secured their second ABA championship, again with Julius Erving, defeating the Denver Nuggets.
Joined the NBA
As part of the ABA-NBA merger, the New York Nets, along with three other ABA teams, joined the National Basketball Association.
Returned to New Jersey, Renamed New Jersey Nets
The team moved back to New Jersey and adopted the name New Jersey Nets, where they would play for the next 35 seasons.
Reached NBA Finals
The New Jersey Nets, led by Jason Kidd, made their first NBA Finals appearance, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Reached Second Consecutive NBA Finals
The Nets returned to the NBA Finals for a second straight year, this time falling to the San Antonio Spurs.
Mikhail Prokhorov Becomes Majority Owner
Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov completed his acquisition of the Nets, paving the way for the team's relocation.
Relocated to Brooklyn, Renamed Brooklyn Nets
The franchise officially moved to Brooklyn, New York, and became the Brooklyn Nets, inaugurating the Barclays Center as their new home arena.
Joseph Tsai Completes Full Ownership Acquisition
Joseph Tsai, co-founder of Alibaba, completed his acquisition of full ownership of the Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center.
Entered Post-Superteam Rebuilding Phase
Following the departures of star players like Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, the Nets entered a period focused on rebuilding their roster with young talent and draft picks.
Eliminated from 2025-26 Playoff Contention
The Brooklyn Nets were eliminated from playoff contention for the third consecutive season after a loss to the Atlanta Hawks, finishing the season with a 20-62 record.
Announced 2026-27 Preseason Schedule
The Brooklyn Nets released their four-game preseason schedule for the upcoming 2026-27 NBA season, including one home game at Barclays Center.
2026-27 Season Success Tied to Draft Lottery
As of today, the Brooklyn Nets' success for the 2026-27 season is being discussed in relation to the draft lottery, as their first-round pick for the next draft is owned by the Houston Rockets. The team is also linked to free agent DeMar DeRozan.
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🔍Deep Dive Analysis
The franchise now known as the Brooklyn Nets began its journey in 1967 as the New Jersey Americans, a charter member of the American Basketball Association (ABA). After just one season, the team moved to Long Island, New York, and became the New York Nets, where they achieved their greatest early success, winning two ABA championships in 1974 and 1976, led by superstar Julius Erving.
In 1976, with the ABA-NBA merger, the Nets joined the National Basketball Association. Financial struggles, including a hefty fee to join the NBA and a payment to the New York Knicks for territorial rights, forced the team to sell Erving. In 1977, the team returned to New Jersey, becoming the New Jersey Nets, where they would remain for 35 seasons, playing in various arenas including the Rutgers Athletic Center, Brendan Byrne Arena (later Continental Airlines Arena and IZOD Center), and the Prudential Center.
The New Jersey Nets experienced a resurgence in the early 2000s, reaching back-to-back NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003, led by All-Star point guard Jason Kidd, though they ultimately did not win an NBA championship. This period marked a high point for the franchise in New Jersey. However, by the late 2000s, the team's performance declined, and discussions about relocation intensified.
A pivotal moment arrived in 2010 when Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov acquired a majority stake in the team, with a vision to move the franchise to Brooklyn. On April 30, 2012, the New Jersey Nets officially relocated to the New York City borough of Brooklyn and were rebranded as the Brooklyn Nets, moving into the newly constructed Barclays Center. This move was aimed at leveraging the lucrative New York media market and establishing a modern identity. Joseph Tsai, co-founder of Alibaba, gradually acquired ownership, completing his full acquisition of the team and Barclays Center in 2019.
Since moving to Brooklyn, the Nets have made several playoff appearances and notably assembled a 'superteam' with stars like Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, though this era did not result in an NBA championship. As of August 2026, the Brooklyn Nets are in a rebuilding phase, having finished the 2025-26 season with a 20-62 record and missing the playoffs for the third consecutive season. The team's 2026-27 preseason schedule was announced in July 2026, and their success in the upcoming season may be significantly impacted by the NBA draft lottery, as they do not own their own first-round pick, which is held by the Houston Rockets. The Nets are also reportedly linked to free agent veteran DeMar DeRozan as of mid-August 2026.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if New Jersey Nets made different choices?