After the low of the Charlotte franchise on the current NBA Tuesday miniseries, we drift north along the Atlantic Ocean coastline back up to New York City. It’s time to take on the Brooklyn Nets—a franchise that started in the ABA as the New Jersey Americans (1967-1968). After one year, though, the team changed its name to the New York Nets for the duration of its ABA existence (1976). But there was more change to come.

After one season in the NBA post-absorption (1977), the team became the New Jersey Nets through 2012, when it moved to Brooklyn. Overall, in 56 seasons, the team does have 31 playoff appearances, so it’s been a solid franchise. However, despite that success, the Nets have just 5 division crowns to claim—and 2 ABA championship banners to display. The Nets are zero-for-two in the NBA Finals, unfortunately. Bummer!

No. 5: 2001-02 New Jersey Nets

This was the first team in the franchise’s NBA history to reach the Finals. With a 52-30 record, the team won the Atlantic Division, while finishing No. 13 on offense, No. 5 on defense, and No. 5 in the overall SRS rankings. The Nets escaped the Indiana Pacers in the first round, before beating Charlotte and Boston in the next two rounds. However, New Jersey’s luck ran out against the defending champs in the Finals. So close!

Nine players on the roster managed at least 3.0 Win Shares, topped by point guard Jason Kidd (8.9) and shooting guard Kerry Kittles (7.7). The Nets had to win Game 5 at home to get past a plucky Pacers team, but the Hornets went down in five games before the Celtics folded in six games. By the time New Jersey faced the Los Angeles Lakers in the Finals, fatigue set in—the Lakers swept the Nets by almost 10.0 ppg.

No. 4: 2020-21 Brooklyn Nets

In the first post-Covid season, the team forged a 48-24 record to finish second in the Atlantic, thanks to the No. 2 offense, the No. 21 defense, and the No. 7 SRS ranking overall. The Nets dispatched the Celtics in five games to open the postseason, but then they had the misfortune to run up against the eventual champion Milwaukee Bucks in the second round. The Nets lost by four points in Game 7 on their home court. Brutal.

Despite partial seasons from each player, the top guys on the roster were PG Kyrie Irving (7.4 WS) and SG James Harden (6.0). Small forward Kevin Durant (5.0) also contributed a lot to the success of the team when he was healthy. Against the Bucks, the home team won every game until the finale; overall, the Brooklyn outscored Milwaukee in the series by 2.8 ppg, but Durant’s 48 points weren’t enough in Game 7.

No. 3: 2002-03 New Jersey Nets

The Nets won the Eastern Conference two seasons in a row, but they still failed to win the NBA championship. A 49-33 delivered another Atlantic Division title, with the No. 14 offense, No. 2 defense, and No. 4 overall SRS ranking in tow. New Jersey dropped just two games on the way to the Finals against the Bucks, the Celtics, and the Detroit Pistons. But the San Antonio Spurs dropped the Nets in six games to win.

Kidd (11.3 WS) and SF Richard Jefferson (9.9) were the stars on this team, as Kittles (7.7) and power forward Kenyon Martin (7.1) were excellent supporting players. After dropping two games against Milwaukee, though, New Jersey swept both Boston and Detroit to enter the Finals with momentum. The Nets even stole home-court advantage with a Game 2 road win, but the Spurs won twice on the road to dominate the series.

No. 2: 1973-74 New York Nets

The first championship team in franchise history, these Nets won the ABA’s Eastern Division with a 55-29 record, thanks to the No. 3 offense, the No. 3 defense, and the No. 1 overall SRS ranking. A 12-2 playoff run followed, dropping single games against the Virginia Squires in the first round and the Utah Stars in the Finals. Between, the Nets swept the Kentucky Colonels. It was a dominant showing by a dominant group.

SF Julius Erving (16.5 WS) was the league M VP, confirmed by us, while center Billy Paultz (8.9) was an able sidekick. In the Squires series, the Nets outscored Virginia by 14.0 ppg, losing once by one point. The Kentucky sweep came by 11.7 ppg, and in the Finals, New York went up 3-0 before losing Game 4 on the road. The Game 5 victory at home was somewhat of a coronation for Dr. J, the ABA’s high-flying star.

No. 1: 1974-75 New York Nets

The best team in organizational history didn’t win the title, even though the team before it did—and so did the team after it (which didn’t make this list). The 58-26 record surprisingly was only good enough for second in the ABA Eastern, after the team lost a tiebreak game to Colonels. The Nets were No. 4 on offense, No. 3 on defense, and No. 2 overall in the SRS rankings. Somehow, they were upset in the first round. Odd.

The team was top heavy with talent, for sure: Erving (17.6 WS), PF Larry Kenon (10.0), Paultz (9.0), and PG Brian Taylor (8.3) formed a strong core, with Dr. J winning another MVP nod. But the road loss in the division-tiebreaking game must have taken a lot mentally out of the Nets. There is no other way to explain a five-game series loss to the Spirit of St. Louis: after a home Game 1 victory, New York dropped four straight.