A History of the Nets: From Teaneck to Brooklyn by Rick Laughland

Author Rick Laughland charts the brutal lows and exuberant highs throughout the history of the Nets.

The Nets have led a wandering existence spanning over five decades. The team has been known as the New Jersey Americans, New York Nets, New Jersey Nets and now Brooklyn Nets, while constantly relocating throughout the New York metropolitan area. Though often plagued by instability and futility, the franchise has celebrated iconic moments in the course of ABA and NBA history. Julius Erving's legendary play led the team to a pair of ABA titles in 1974 and 1976. The meteoric rise of European superstar Dražen Petrović followed by his tragic death in 1993 is etched into basketball fans' hearts worldwide. Jason Kidd's uncommon will steered New Jersey to back-to-back NBA Finals appearances in 2002 and 2003. An enlightening phone call from NBA commissioner David Stern in 1997 paved the way for the team's move to Brooklyn in 2012.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rick Laughland has been front and center in the New York sports scene, coevring the Brooklyn, Nets, New York Jets, New York Mets, and the New York Giants as a beat reporter for various media outlets in the past decade. Laughland's work has been featured online via FOXSports and CBS Sports, along with broadcast appearances on FOX 5 TV in New York, Sirius XM Radio, FOXSports National Radio and FOXSports Radio New Jersey. Laughland currently operates an independent Brooklyn Nets blog at NetsInsider.com, with syndication on Bleacher Report, Hoopshype and Yardbarker. Laughland currently serves as an adjunct professor of marketing at his alma mater, Fairleigh Dickinson University. He enjoys spending time with his family, including traveling with his wife, Kristen, and playing catch with his dog, Theo. In his free time, Rick can be found playing and watching the sport he loves most, basketball. You can reach Rick at Rick.Laughland@gmail.com for any comments or inquiries.