Brooklyn Nets
The Brooklyn Nets are among the only four NBA teams without a mascot. The Nets have had three mascots in the past, with Brooklynknight being the latest.
Formerly known as the New Jersey Nets, it is a professional basketball team based in Brooklyn, New York. The team competes in the NBA as the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division member.
The Nets puff a triad of official team mascots, epitomizing the team's home borough's diverse spirit. Brooklyknight, Duncan the Dragon, and Sly the Silver Fox carry distinctive character and flair to the court.
Before moving to Brooklyn, the Nets were based across the Hudson River in New Jersey from 1977 to 2012 as the New Jersey Nets.
During their time in the swamp, the team introduced its first official mascot, Duncan the Dragon. It was introduced apparently after the management pondered changing the name to New Jersey Swamp Dragons, which was ultimately declined.
The mascot was an initiative to increase merchandise sales and overcome the disappointing attendance rate by promoting an animated cartoon dragon logo to the kids.
At the beginning of the 1997-98 season, the Nets brought a change in mascots. Sly the Silver Fox took Duncan's place.
It is the team's longest-lasting mascot as it entertained the fans and had a catchy name. The Silver Fox represented the Nets for their final 15 seasons in New Jersey.
As the team moved to Brooklyn in 2012, a new mascot, The BrooklyKnight, was introduced at the Nets' debut in the borough on November 3 against the Toronto Raptors.
The BrooklyKnight was presented as a superhero who would defend Brooklyn. ESPN, Marvel, and ABC designed the character, and Marvel released a comic book called BrooklyKnight #1 to provide it with a backstory.
However, the mascot was retired for the 2014-15 season as the fans were never drawn to it. Many deem it too scary for the kids and lacking the comedic value required for a mascot.
Since then, the Nets have been mascot-free and have no plans for a mascot in the coming seasons.