The franchise was established in 1967 as part of the American Basketball Association, with trucking magnate Arthur Brown as the owner. The team was originally known as the New York Americans, and Brown intended for it to play at the 69th Regiment Armory on Manhattan’s east side, but pressure from the New York Knicks forced the Armory to back out three months before opening day.[1]

Brown found it difficult to find a suitable venue in New York City. Some were booked solid, and others had owners who didn’t want to anger the Knicks by opening their doors to a rival team. Scrambling for a venue, the team settled on the Armory in Teaneck, New Jersey, and changed its squad name to the New Jersey Americans, though its franchise name remained the New York Americans.[1]

The Americans did fairly well in their first season, tying the Kentucky Colonels for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Division. However, the Armory was booked, forcing the Americans to scramble for a last-minute replacement.

they started in ABA and called New York Americans, then changed to New Jersey Americans, then moved to Long Island and became New York Nets , then when moved to NBA became the New Jersey Nets, but in couple of years will be Brooklyn Nets

New York Americans was their first name.

Then they Changed to New Jersey Americans then they changed to New Jersey Nets to rhyme with the other sports franchises MLB New York Mets and the New York Jets.

The were first known as the Americans. They became the Nets in 1968 or so. They were known as the Americans for about a year.