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Brooklyn needs to reestablish Nets' Culture Beyond Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving soap opera

In 55 seasons of Nets basketball there has never been as talented a duo as Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving choosing to sign with the team. Most of the franchise's legendary players came either via trade: Julius Erving, Jason Kidd, Drazen Petrovic, Vince Carter, just to name a few or via the draft: Brook Lopez, Buck Williams, Derrick Coleman, Kenny Anderson, Richard Jefferson and Kenyon Martin among others. Never has a marquee free agent elected to sign with the Nets.
So when the dynamic duo of Irving and Durant selected to play in Brooklyn, it sent shockwaves throughout the NBA and certainly in Nets' World. Two players, still in the primes of their respective careers, aiming to bring the franchise its first ever title was a pipedream. Somewhere along with way, between prolonged absences from a supposed leader, star players playing both GM and coach, along with young assets that built an enviable culture sent packing to bring more seasoned players into the fold, everything went sideways.

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  The Nets culture is in trouble with questions left unanswered. Who is really calling the shots? Is it Sean Marks? Is it a collaborative effort with Durant and Irving? Is Steve Nash leading the huddle? Or in the player empowerment era are the players calling their own number? How much autonomy is Joe Tsai giving Marks to do his job effectively?

 The word culture is overused across all sports, but it's paramount to understand how Brooklyn went from a highly thought of and praised organization by other teams and their fans, into a laughingstock that basically put Irving and Durant in the driver's seat directing the trajectory of the club. The reality is Marks will need to regain full roster control and importantly leverage with Irving in potentially negotiating a long-term extension.

 Irving has shown a willingness to pay the ultimate price by missing games and in turn game checks and that has done nothing to disuade him from following his personal beliefs above the team's need for him to be available. While the Nets don't have a storied history littered with championships and a winning tradition, the fact of the matter remains the team played 52 seasons before Irving and Durant signed here and will play another 52 after both are either long retired or at other destinations. 

No two players, no matter how talented or earth shattering their decision to join the team can be, should be allowed to dictate the course of the franchise. Now is the time for Captain Marks to take control of this sinking ship and navigate it through rough seas and set a new course for the championship hungry squad to follow.

1 comment:

  1. AnonymousJune 4, 2022 at 11:04 AM

    This all on the GM , KD not James when he get all the say so. GM has to put good player around them , and some guys that can rebound and play defense.

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