New Jersey Nets

From ABA champions to NBA Finals contenders.

The New Jersey Nets were an American professional basketball team based in New Jersey. The Nets competed in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. They were one of two NBA teams located in New York City, the other being the New York Knicks.

Quick Facts

Division

Atlantic Division

Conference

Eastern Conference

Rivalry era peak

Early 2000s

Key knicks figures

Tim Thomas, Stephon Marbury

Key nets figures

Jason Kidd
Kenyon Martin
Julius Erving

Competitive balance

Nets swept Knicks in 2004; Knicks won 1983 and 1994 playoffs

Lore & Background

The club was established in 1967 as a charter franchise of the NBA's rival league, the American Basketball Association (ABA). They played in New Jersey as the New Jersey Americans during their first season, before relocating to Long Island, New York, in 1968 and changing their name to the New York Nets. During this time, the Nets won two ABA championships (1974 and 1976), led by Hall of Famer Julius Erving. In 1976, the ABA merged with the NBA and four ABA teams were absorbed (Nets, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, and San Antonio Spurs), all of whom remain in the league to this day. In 1977, the team returned to New Jersey and played as the New Jersey Nets from 1977 to 2012. Led by star point guard Jason Kidd, the Nets reached consecutive NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003, but failed to win a championship. In the summer of 2012, the team moved to Barclays Center in Brooklyn, becoming the first major sports franchise in the borough since the departure of the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team in 1957.

Reader's Guide

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. 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 2025) to the New York Knicks. The team was forced to finance that payment by selling Erving's contract to the Philadelphia 76ers; 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. 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. 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.

Origins of Conflict

The animosity started in 1967 when the franchise, originally named the New York Americans, was blocked from playing at Manhattan's 69th Regiment Armory by the Knicks. Forced into Teaneck, New Jersey, the team eventually became the New York Nets and won ABA championships. Upon joining the NBA in 1976, they faced an encroachment fee of $4.8 million for playing at Nassau Coliseum, a financial blow that forced them to sell Julius Erving. When the team relocated to New Jersey in 1977, the Knicks threatened to block the move based on exclusive territorial rights. The Nets sued under anti-trust laws, resulting in a settlement where they paid another $4 million to secure their right to play across the river.

The Suburban Divide

Between 1977 and 2012, the rivalry was defined by the divide between Manhattan and New Jersey. The Knicks held more media sway regardless of records, while New Jersey arenas hosted a mix of fans from both sides due to lower ticket prices and proximity across the Hudson River. Dominance traded hands: the Nets peaked in the early 1980s and early 2000s, while the Knicks found success from the late 80s through the 90s. The teams met in the playoffs three times total in history, with the first two occurring here. In both the 1983 and 1994 first-round series, the Knicks defeated the Nets easily, establishing a narrative of New York superiority that persisted until the early 2000s.

The Marbury-Kidd Era

The intensity peaked in the early 2000s after Jason Kidd was acquired by the Nets. He promised his team would stop playing second fiddle to the Knicks. The rivalry turned personal when Stephon Marbury, previously traded for Kidd, returned to the Knicks in 2004. Both players claimed to be the best point guard in the league, fueling a fierce competition. This culminated in the 2004 playoffs where the Nets swept the Knicks. The series featured a highly publicized confrontation between Tim Thomas and Kenyon Martin; Thomas challenged Martin to a fight and insulted him as "fugazi," highlighting the deep hostility between the franchises.

Return to Boroughs

In 2012, the Nets moved from Newark to Brooklyn's Barclays Center, transforming the rivalry into an intra-city series known as the "Battle of the Boroughs" or "Clash of the Boroughs." Owner Mikhail Prokhorov immediately engaged in psychological warfare, buying a massive billboard facing Madison Square Garden with the words "Blueprint for Greatness" and insulting Knicks owner James Dolan. The Knicks responded with a TV commercial mocking the Nets' ability to match their legacy. Tensions rose so high that NBA commissioner David Stern arranged a meeting between Prokhorov and Dolan to de-escalate the personal insults, including Prokhorov's comments about "turning Knicks fans into Nets fans."

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the New Jersey Nets in relation to the Knicks?

The New Jersey Nets were the primary geographic rivals of the New York Knicks, competing directly within the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference. This fierce matchup defined the basketball landscape of the New York metropolitan area for decades before the franchise relocated to Brooklyn.

How did the story of this rivalry evolve over time?

The narrative shifted from a cross-state battle between New York and New Jersey into an intra-city feud when the Nets moved across the Hudson River to become the Brooklyn Nets. This relocation intensified the competition as both teams now share the same metropolitan home base.

What is the lasting importance of this rivalry today?

It remains a cornerstone of Atlantic Division history, symbolizing the intense battle for the soul of New York City's basketball fandom. The legacy endures as fans continue to measure their team's success against this historic benchmark of local dominance.