7
Jul
Team Profile
Brooklyn Nets: Five things you need to know
From ABA champion New Jersey Nets to Brooklyn's basketball renaissance
- The Brooklyn Nets roster has an average age of 22.8 years
- The franchise won two ABA Championships in 1974 and 1976
- The Nets have retired eight numbers (including Julius Erving #32 and Jason Kidd #5)
- Two-time ABA champions (1974, 1976)
The Brooklyn Nets are one of two NBA franchises based in the state of New York. With over 50 years of history, the Brooklyn Nets have contributed to the growth of basketball on the East Coast of America and have long represented the passion and pride in the borough of Brooklyn. Winning two ABA Championships in the 70s and fielding players like Julius Erving and Jason Kidd, the Nets have a rich history in the world of basketball.
Key Details
- Location: Brooklyn, New York
- Year Founded: 1967 (as New Jersey Americans)
- Home Arena: Barclays Center
- Championships: 2 (ABA: 1974, 1976)
- Major Rivals: New York Knicks, Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors
2024-2025 NBA Season Summary
- Record: 26-56
- Finish: 12th seed
- All-Star Selections: None
2024-25 Off-season Moves
Re-signing
- Day’Ron Sharpe returns on 2-year deal
- Ziaire Williams returns on 2-year deal
Ins
- Terance Mann joins via 3-team trade
- Michael Porter Jr. joins via trade with Nuggets
Outs
- Cam Johnson departs via trade with Nuggets
- D’Angelo Russell departs in free agency to Mavericks
- Trendon Watford departs in free agency to 76ers
This offseason, the Nets committed fully to a rebuild. When they drafted Egor Demin with the 8th overall pick in the 2025 Draft, the Nets added a 19-year-old to a roster with an average of 22.8 years. Trading away Cam Johnson and D’Angelo Russell saw the team lose two of their most experienced players and leaders.
In return, the Nets landed NBA Champion Michael Porter Jr., who brings elite shooting and NBA Finals experience. Paired with offensive juggernaut Cam Thomas, the Nets will be an exciting offence to watch under the guidance of Jordi Fernandez in his second season.
As a team building for the future, it is inevitable that the 2025/26 season will be a developmental one where the team slowly builds a strong foundation. With a stack of draft picks and young stars on the roster, expect new leaders to emerge at the Brooklyn Nets and usher in a new era of Nets basketball.
Predicted 2025-26 Lineup
- Point Guard: Egor Demin
- Shooting Guard: Cam Thomas
- Small Forward: Zaire Williams
- Power Forward: Michael Porter Jr
- Centre: Nic Claxton
Australians who have played for the Brooklyn Nets
Ben Simmons joined the Nets in 2022 after a blockbuster trade that saw James Harden sent to Philadelphia. Standing at 6,’10”, Simmons’ excellent ball handling and passing was brought in to complement the games of superstars Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. After playing 90 games for the Brooklyn franchise, Simmons was traded to the Clippers in the 2024/25 season.
Patty Mills: Legendary Australian player Patty Mills spent two seasons with the Brooklyn Nets, providing three-point shooting off the bench. His 2021-22 season with the side was one of his best, as he went on to average 11.4 points a game, the second highest in his career.
Mitch Creek: Victorian native Mitch Creek signed a 10-day contract with the Brooklyn Nets in the 2018/19 season. Playing in four games he averaged 3.8 points and 2.5 rebounds per game.
Identity
From ABA Champions in the 1970s to challenging for titles in the 2000s, the Brooklyn Nets have consistently presented transformative styles of basketball that have helped them reach basketball glory. With figures like Julius Erving and Jason Kidd, the Brooklyn Nets identity has been moulded to represent one of must-watch basketball, community and grittiness.
Despite moving from city to city, the franchise has finally found a home in Brooklyn where an identity has been constructed with pillars of its illustrious past. The Nets have done an excellent job at reflecting the culture in Brooklyn, with the franchise continually finding ways to incorporate street culture into everyday operations. Whether reflected in the team’s black and white urban style uniforms or the spirit embodied on the court, the Brooklyn Nets have cultivated a culture of diversity, courage and passion that makes it such an important team in the NBA.
Brooklyn Nets History
The franchise was established in 1967 as the New Jersey Americans, a franchise of the American Basketball Association (ABA). The team would relocate to Long Island and change their name to the New York Nets, triumphing in two ABA championships in 1974 and 1976 before the ABA merged with the NBA. The centrepiece of the New York Nets success in the mid 70’s was NBA Hall of Famer, Julius Erving, who to this day is still one of the best players to play for the franchise.
Moving back to New Jersey after the merger the team would be called the New Jersey Nets for the next 35 seasons. In that time as the New Jersey Nets, the franchise would have back-to-back finals appearances in 2001/02 and 2002/03. With all timer Jason Kidd leading the franchise, the New Jersey side enjoyed their most successful period as an NBA team in the early 2000s.
In the 2012-13 season the franchise packed up and moved to Brooklyn, New York. As the Brooklyn Nets, the franchise has enjoyed various playoff appearances, with their best in 2021-22 when superstars Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden took the side to game 7 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Nets Five Fast Facts
- The Nets are one of only four ABA teams to join the NBA in the 1976 merger.
- They are the only team to win the final ABA championship before joining the NBA.
- Kyrie Irving set the franchise record for points in a single game with 60 against the Orlando Magic
- Their move to Brooklyn in 2012 made them the first major professional sports team in the borough since the Dodgers left in 1957.
- The team's black and white colour scheme, adopted in 2012, was influenced by Jay-Z, who was a minority owner at the time.
Brooklyn Nets Timeline
- 1967: Founded as the New Jersey Americans in the ABA
- 1968: Relocated to Long Island and renamed the New York Nets
- 1974: Won first ABA championship
- 1976: Won second ABA championship and joined the NBA
- 1977: Moved back to New Jersey as the New Jersey Nets
- 2002: Reached first NBA Finals
- 2003: Made their second consecutive Finals appearance
- 2012: Relocated to Brooklyn, becoming the Brooklyn Nets
- 2019: Signed Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, ushering in a new era
The Brooklyn Nets for over 50 years have encapsulated the passion and diligence found on the East Coast of America. With the franchise currently building a team fit for the future, some emerging stars are bringing about exciting times for the Brooklyn-based franchise.
Playing out of one of the world’s biggest sporting states, the Brooklyn Nets will continue to be a favourable destination for stars where the lights shine brighter than anywhere else.
