The team was initially founded in New Jersey and it was called the New Jersey Americans. Julius “Dr.J” Erving has led the team to two ABA Championships and in 1976 Nets joined the NBA. After this move, they saw limited success for more than two decades, with their peak success being the NBA finals appearances in 2001-02 and 2002-03 against the Los Angeles Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs. During this time they were led by Jason Kidd. In 2012 they made the move to Brooklyn, New York after 35 seasons played in New Jersey, thus giving the city of New York, two teams.

As a franchise, they are at the center of attention almost always due to the location that it has and at the fact that they have a front office that is always willing to make trades to help the team get to the next level. The problem with that is those trades have cost them dearly at times, like when they signed a declining Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce trying to make a deep run at the playoffs, a campaign that ended disastrously for the team.

Most notable players who have played for the nets in the past and present are; Julius Erving, Jason Kidd, Drazen Petrovic, Vince Carter, and the current all star, D'Angelo Russell.