Brooklyn Nets

Brooklyn Nets 

There’s been a great deal of change in the 53-year history of the Brooklyn Nets. Originally the New Jersey Americans of the American Basketball Association (ABA), the Americans first played across the Hudson River in New Jersey.

One year later in 1968, the team moved from New Jersey to Long Island and changed its name to the New York Nets. Following the merger of the ABA and NBA in 1976, the team moved back to New Jersey and again change its name this time to the New Jersey Nets. 

In 2012, the New Jersey Nets once again changed location. Returning to New York, the team moved to the borough of Brooklyn, taking on the name Brooklyn Nets. Will this name and location stick? 

Nets History

The New Jersey Nets stuck around for 35 years before their move to Brooklyn. During these years, the Nets were not considered much of a threat. The team reached the playoffs only 10 times from 1977 to 2000.

The early 2000s, however, were good to the Nets with the team making the playoffs every season from 2001-2007. In the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons, the Nets reached the NBA Finals but lost both times – to the Los Angeles Lakers (4-0) and to the San Antonio Spurs (4-2). 

The lean years came back again from 2008 to 2012 with the team missing the playoffs in each season. 

While championships have eluded the franchise, it has produced several NBA Hall of Famers and stars – Most notably Jason Kidd. The NBA Hall of Famer played seven years with the Nets and served as head coach from 2013-2014. Other notable former Nets players include Julius “Dr. J” Irving, Buck Williams, Derrick Coleman, and Vince Carter. 

Recently, the Nets struck gold. Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden are all members of the team. They are currently the favorites to win the 2021-22 NBA title at most sportsbooks. 

Brooklyn Nets Timeline:

• 1967: New Jersey Americans debuted in the American Basketball Association
• 1968: Name changed to New York Nets with a move to Long Island
• 1976: The New Jersey Nets move back to Jersey
• 2001-2003: Two trips to the NBA Finals, without winning a championship
• 2012: The New Jersey Nets become the Brooklyn Nets

The Nets Stadiums & Barclays Center

It’s no surprise with all the moving the Nets did during their history that they’ve called numerous arenas home. No less than eight professional and amateur arenas were the home court for the Nets/Americans. 

The Brendan Byrne Arena located near Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, served as the home of the Nets for the longest period. It to has gone through several name changes including the Continental Airlines Arena and Izod Center. 

With their move to Brooklyn in 2012, the Nets now call the Barclays Center home. The Barclays Center is a state-of-the-art, multi-use facility. The New York Islanders and New York Liberty of the WBNA share the arena with the Nets. The Islanders are moving to a new arena in 2021. 

Major Brooklyn Nets Rivalries

Given their geographic proximity to the New York Knicks, there is no love between the two teams, especially now that the Nets are just across the East River from the Knicks. New York area sports teams have long had a rivalry with teams from Philadelphia. The tradition rings true for the Nets and Philadelphia 76ers. Former Nets great Dr. J played for the Sixers, which added to the rivalry and bad blood. 

2021-2022 Nets Season & NBA Title Potential

The team hired Steve Nash as head coach before the 2020-21 season. With Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving on the roster, the Nets were viewed as one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. They added a superstar to the roster in January 2021 when they acquired James Harden in a trade.

Those three stars were rarely healthy at the same time, and the Nets never seemed to get the kind of momentum they thought they could. They finished second in the Eastern Conference and were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by the eventual NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks.

With Durant, Irving, and Harden having a full off-season to get healthy, the Nets are the favorite to win the NBA title in 2021-22. The regular season began on Oct. 19 and those odds have fallen since.

Get more information on Brooklyn Nets online sports betting.