Taylor Swift had the “Eras Tour.” Now, the Brooklyn Nets have “Era Nights.”
For Nets fans of all ages, Barclays Center is becoming a celebration of the franchise’s past, present and future in the coming season with six different celebrations. The biggest surprise? The Nets will host Swamp Dragons Night on January 29, 2027, when they face the Los Angeles Clippers at Barclays Center. The event is part of the Nets’ six-night 2026-27 Era Nights series celebrating different periods in franchise history.
In 2016, Zach Lowe uncovered the story behind the Nets’ nearly becoming the “Swamp Dragons” in an exclusive ESPN feature, revealing a treasure trove of photos of uniforms, logos, court designs and merchandise created for the proposed rebrand that had never seen outside dusty trademark applications.
Appropriately, Lowe broke the news before the Nets sent out official word…
The Nets were struggling to attract fans and sell merchandise in New Jersey, and then-team president Jon Spoelstra was searching for a way to give the franchise a new identity. The idea he landed on? The Swamp Dragons — inspired by the Meadowlands and the era of colorful, cartoonish NBA logos.
And the Nets didn’t just kick the idea around. They went all the way in.
The NBA spent $500,000 protecting the Swamp Dragons name and related marks. The team settled on a teal, purple and black color scheme, commissioned new logos and developed uniforms, court designs, shooting shirts and warmups.
Then, it all fell apart because of the Nets! Even after the NBA’s Board of Governors voted 26-1 to approve the name change, the Nets themselves had voted against it. The one dissenting vote was their own!
More than three decades later, the Swamp Dragons are finally getting their night in Brooklyn. Will they play in Swamp Dragon uniforms? Bet on it!
The Brooklyn Nets Era Nights Series
The Brooklyn Nets’ 2026-27 Era Nights series will celebrate six distinct periods in franchise history, from the team’s ABA roots and Julius Erving era to the move to Brooklyn and the back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals appearances of the early 2000s.
Here’s the full Brooklyn Nets Era Nights schedule…
ABA Night — November 18 vs. Chicago Bulls
The Nets will celebrate their ABA roots, including their championship teams, league innovations and the Julius Erving era that helped establish the franchise as one of basketball’s most forward-thinking organizations.
80s Night — December 18 vs. Orlando Magic
The Nets will look back at their move to New Jersey and stars like Buck Williams, among others who helped lay the foundation.
90s Night — January 9 vs. Houston Rockets
The 1990s brought some of the most influential players and moments in Nets history. The night will celebrate Dražen Petrović’s lasting legacy, as well as the era’s impact on the franchise and the global game.
Swamp Dragons Night — Jan. 29 vs. Los Angeles Clippers
One of the strangest “what ifs” in NBA history will finally get its night in Brooklyn. Expect merchandise to pop off the shelves for this one — Nets fan or not.
2000s Night, presented by Ticketmaster — March 15 vs. Indiana Pacers
The Nets will celebrate the most successful era in franchise history, honoring the back-to-back Eastern Conference championship teams and the players who helped put New Jersey on the national basketball map. So many fans now are present because of this team.
Hello Brooklyn Night — March 31 vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
The series concludes by celebrating the Nets’ move to Brooklyn. Hello Brooklyn Night will mark the franchise’s arrival at Barclays Center and the return of major professional sports to the borough after a 55-year absence.
As for the future, we’ll know more then than we do now.
