Questions are mounting about Steve Nash's ability to make the proper coaching adjustments and the team's general manager, Sean Marks, whiffed on many free agent additions after having the Midas Touch throughout his tenure with the club.Pre-order Today! New Nets History Book reveals untold story of how ... https://t.co/MAfdYDALWV #NetsLevel #NetsWorld #NBA @chibbs_1 @KendallG13 @dbearak @DHenryTV
— Nets Insider (@NetsHistory) May 12, 2022
Nets Insider Videos
LeBron names KD, Kyrie or Kobe as possible teammates in hypothetical 2-on-2 matchup with MJ and Pippen
NBA.com
Game recognize game.
Pre-order TODAY: A History of the Nets-From Teaneck to Brooklyn
LeBron James is fully aware of the star power residing in Brooklyn and in an open Q&A session via Twitter, The King gave an intriguing answer to a compelling question.
Kobe, KD or Kyrie
— LeBron James (@KingJames) May 17, 2022
Of course, NBA fans will never have an opportunity to see that legendary game happen, but it's clear James' respect for the individual skillset of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant is at an all-time high.
Pre-order TODAY: A History of the Nets-From Teaneck to Brooklyn
The late-great Kobe Bryant is as good a candidate as any to play alongside James in a battle of the NBA's greatest legends both past and present.
Pre-order Today! New Nets History Book reveals untold story of how ... https://t.co/MAfdYDALWV #NetsLevel #NetsWorld #NBA @chibbs_1 @KendallG13 @dbearak @DHenryTV
— Nets Insider (@NetsHistory) May 12, 2022
D espite the last two seasons ending in bitter disappointment for the Nets, fans must not forget just how otherworldly their two superstars can be when healthy and on the court together.
Giannis feels KD's pain of losing in playoffs short-handed
It was Kevin Durant embracing Giannis Antetokounmpo after a heartbreaking Game 7 loss in the second round of the NBA playoffs last year, this time it was the Greek Freak sending best wishes to Jayson Tatum on the winning side in Game 7 Sunday.
Pre-order TODAY: A History of the Nets-From Teaneck to Brooklyn
Without Khris Middleton, the Bucks failed to capitalize on a 3-2 series lead and dropped the final two contests, with Antetokounmpo leaving it an out on the floor.
Sound familiar?
Pre-order Today! New Nets History Book reveals untold story of how ... https://t.co/MAfdYDALWV #NetsLevel #NetsWorld #NBA @chibbs_1 @KendallG13 @dbearak @DHenryTV
— Nets Insider (@NetsHistory) May 12, 2022
Durant, with a hobbled Harden and without Kyrie Irving due to an ankle injury saw a 3-2 series edge slip away by a half shoe size in Game 7.
The irony and parallels of how the Nets season ended last year and the fashion in which the Bucks were ousted by Boston this year is uncanny.
Pre-order TODAY: A History of the Nets-From Teaneck to Brooklyn
As fortuitous as Milwaukee's run to a title was last year and as unlucky as it was for Brooklyn, things came full circle this time around.
Miami awaits Boston in the Eastern Conference finals, while most Nets fans will be rooting for the Western conference winners to take home the Larry O'Brien trophy.
Nets honeymoon phase with Kyrie, KD has reached a crossroads in Brooklyn
As Brooklyn Turns should have been the slogan for the 2021-22 Brooklyn Nets. A soap opera of a basketball team that had every type of drama, dysfunction and intrigue to make for constant entertainment for Nets' detractors.
The on-court product was underwhelming due to Kyrie Irving's refusal to comply with local vaccine mandates, Kevin Durant being sideline with an injured knee, James Harden's discontentment and subsequent trade, along with a playoff sweep at the hands of the reviled Boston Celtics.
Pre-order TODAY: A History of the Nets-From Teaneck to Brooklyn
Not to mention the fact that Ben Simmons' herniated disc in his back prevented him from playing a single game with the club and forced him to undergo surgery this off-season.
All told, the Nets were a mess this past season.
Questions about Steve Nash's rotations, offensive philosophy and Sean Marks' roster construction around his two superstars are mounting.Pre-order Today! New Nets History Book reveals untold story of how ... https://t.co/MAfdYDALWV #NetsLevel #NetsWorld #NBA @chibbs_1 @KendallG13 @dbearak @DHenryTV
— Nets Insider (@NetsHistory) May 12, 2022
The honeymoon period with Durant and Irving as the faces of the franchise is reaching a crossroads. The Nets have failed to get out of the second round of the playoffs, produced a 7-9 playoff record and one series win in two seasons.
Pre-order TODAY: A History of the Nets-From Teaneck to Brooklyn
This is unacceptable for a franchise with championship aspirations. Durant is all about basketball, but Irving's absences call into question his commitment to the team and whether the extension he's expected to sign this summer will include incentives to ensure he remains available for games. Even with those type of stipulations, Irving has shown he's willing to pass up millions of dollars in game checks to do what's in his own best interest.
Marks built an enviable culture in Brooklyn before Irving and Durant arrived and the team needs to get back to that. The Nets executive intimated that any major moves will be discussed with his stars, but at the end of the day, the Nets played 52 seasons before the duo arrived and play will go on long after they retire.
The reality is the Nets need retool the team's complementary pieces and keep everyone on the court this upcoming season. Brooklyn made headlines for all the wrong reasons this past year, now is the time to start fulfilling championship promises. No more honeymoon, it's make or break time in a marriage between the Nets and Irving and Durant that's been littered with issues, some out of their control, but many self-inflicted.
Personal milestones and highlight reel plays are ahead for the dynamic duo, but at the end of the day, the success of this era of Nets'basketball will only be measured by playoff success, more specifically championships.
New Nets History Book reveals untold story of how franchise landed in Brooklyn
Nets fans can now pre-order the new book: A History of the Nets, From Teaneck to Brooklyn on Amazon today! CLICK HERE to Pre-order Today!
The Book is set to hit bookstores July 11 throughout the New York metropolitan area, but why wait? Preorder your copy today!
CLICK HERE to Pre-order Today!
BOOK DESCRIPTION:
The Nets have led a wandering existence spanning over five decades since their founding. The team has been known as the New Jersey Americans, the New York Nets, the 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 seminal 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 Drazen Petrovic with the Nets starting in 1991 followed by his tragic death in 1993 is etched into basketball fans' hearts and minds worldwide. CLICK HERE to Pre-order Today!
Jason Kidd's iconic grit steered New Jersey to back-to-back NBA Finals appearances in 2002 and 2003.The untold story of how a call from the late-NBA commissioner David Stern to the Nets President paved the way for the team's move to Brooklyn. Author Rick Laughland charts the brutal lows and the exuberant highs throughout the history of the Nets.
No Sleep in Brooklyn tonight as KD, Kyrie swept out of playoffs by C's
Kevin Durant missed significant time with a left MCL sprain, logging heavy minutes when healthy to make up for an ineligible Irving then overtaxing himself down the stretch to get the Nets in the best possible playoff situation."Proud of 'em. We grew a lot, we're just not able to see it at this moment in time"
— Nets Videos (@SNYNets) April 26, 2022
- Steve Nash on the Nets' 2021-22 season pic.twitter.com/jjAIYdGiRP
KD's, Kyrie's legacy on the line in must-win scenario
Kevin Durant's turnover problems nothing new for Brooklyn
The turnover bug bit the Nets' star throughout the regular season. Whether it's the 43 different starting lineups Steve Nash has used this year, the rotating carousel of the supporting cast members, or simply dumb basketball, Durant is absorbing plenty of blame. Meanwhile his running mate, Kyrie Irving, followed up his masterful 39 point outing on Sunday with an eerily quiet 10-point game. Brooklyn's season is slipping away quickly and a perimeter oriented offense without wing players who attack the rim has left the team exposed. Brooklyn hosts Boston on Saturday looking to get its first win of the series.In 55 regular season games, Durant tallied at least five turnovers 18 times. If #Nets hope to come out on top of Celtics, supporting cast will need to step up, and get on same page as Durant. Costly turnovers lead to easy run-outs and Nets are not good at transition D #NetsWorld
— Nets Insider (@NetsInsider1) April 16, 2022
Ben Simmons ruled out for Game 2, Nash leaves door open for Game 3 return
Brooklyn travels to take on Boston on Wednesday night and while Nash has all but ruled out Simmons for Game 2, it's appearing more and more likely that Game 3 at Barclays Center is a potential target for his return.Nash said Simmons would not play in Game 2. When asked about possibility of Game 3, Nash was non-committal — saying this is such a unique situation with how much time Simmons has missed they are waiting to see how his back responds over next few days before deciding next steps.
— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) April 19, 2022
The Nets are in dire need of a defender to help contain Jayson Tatum and Simmons is the perfect candidate to fill that team need. Brooklyn trails the series 0-1 after a gut wrenching buzzer beating loss on Sunday, courtesy of a Tatum game winning layup. While the Simmons news is encouraging, the Nets need to first equalize the series on Wednesday to avoid a 0-2 hole before Simmons can even take the court.Ben Simmons played 4 on 4 yesterday. His first contact practice since arriving.
— Michael Grady (@Grady) April 19, 2022
Still no update on debut…
Nash needs to summon Nets' unused weapons off bench in Game 2
Not only did Nash opt for a small ball lineup, but he stuck with a switching defense putting grossly undersized defenders in compromising positions and allowing the Celtics second chance possessions. Despite these tactical flaws, the Nets could have and probably should have stolen the series opener. If Brooklyn hopes to turn the tide Wednesday in Game 2, Aldridge and Griffin will need to play a role in the defense and rebounding department. Nash has answers on his roster, but he'll need to summon them from his bench and trust his big men to make a tangible impact."I'm proud of the guys... We had a poor start to the second half which cost us, obviously. But other than that I thought there was a lot of growth" - Steve Nash pic.twitter.com/PUhVsNQkt7
— Nets Videos (@SNYNets) April 17, 2022
Kyrie Irving questions Elon Musk's future plans for Twitter
Musk's supposed plans to privatize Twitter and put the future of the company entirely into the hands of shareholders has drawn concerns that profit, stock price and other factors will supercede freedom of speech.Peace @elonmusk
— A11Even (@KyrieIrving) April 15, 2022
I have a few questions about what the future will look like.
Asking for my people.#stillmoretodoinourworld
Big tech has been under fire for censoring and even banning certain public figures from joining the discourse on the free, public platform. Irving has been a major proponent of the free speech and advocate of social justice before and through tumultuous times amidst the pandemic. Irving is posing an interesting question regarding how a potential sale to Musk will impact any people with dissenting views, particularly those belonging to marginalized communities. Musk, a business leader and forward-thinking entrepreneur, and Irving, an otherworldly athlete and outspoken social justice advocate, bring intriguing, but contrasting world viewpoints that will hopefully create an open and healthy dialogue regarding big tech and censorship.Will endeavor to keep as many shareholders in privatized Twitter as allowed by law
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 14, 2022
Nets cryptic tweet sends mixed messages about Ben Simmons' status
Call in marketing, or call it a simple tease, but anyway you slice it, the Brooklyn Nets are not closing the door on Ben Simmons returning to action during the playoffs. The Nets tweeted out footage of Simmons shooting during practice at the HSS Training Center over the weekend. No, he's not participating in 1-on-1 or 5-on-5 drills, but the development is significant on the dawn of the playoffs.
Working on the weekend. pic.twitter.com/VSOY7Ivf0e
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) April 10, 2022
Previously, head coach Steve Nash indicated he's not counting on Simmons returning in time for the play-in tournament, which begins next Tuesday or even the first round of the playoffs, assuming the Nets advance to that stage.
Brooklyn has been notoriously mum on the injury status of its players and only revealed within the last month that Simmons needed an epidural to calm down the herniated disc that was flaring up in his back.
It's difficult to say whether the Nets are playing cat and mouse games with the media and the rest of the NBA by tweeting out Simmons' progress, but it appears that both the player and the organization are not ruling out a potential return barring any setbacks.
Report: NYC Mayor to lift vaccine mandate making Kyrie eligible to play at home
New York City Mayor Eric Adams didn't show any signs publicly that he was ready to peel back the private sector vaccine mandate that prevented unvaccinated Kyrie Irving from playing at Barclays Center and Madison Square Garden.
According to Politico, Adams has reversed course and intends to lift the mandate, thereby allowing Irving and other unvaccinated professional athletes including Mets and Yankees players to play in NYC.
Kyrie Irving and other unvaccinated athletes will be allowed to play professional sports in New York City under a major policy change Mayor Eric Adams is poised to announce Thursday, sources familiar with the matter confirmed. https://t.co/9Il9ZEtWAT
— POLITICO New York (@politicony) March 23, 2022
The reported decision comes approximately two weeks prior to the NBA playoffs starting and with optimism Irving would be eligible on a full-time basis at an all-time low in recent days.
The private sector mandate is reviewed Thursday each week and the official word is expected by tomorrow.
Brooklyn is two games back of Toronto for the seventh seed and three games back of Cleveland for sixth with ten games remaining.
Nets Insider: Report: NYC Mayor to lift vaccine mandate making Kyrie eligible to play at home https://t.co/AGR2Uqbaeg #NetsWorld #nba
— Nets Insider (@NetsInsiderBlog) March 23, 2022
The Nets have won five of the last six games and were hoping to avoid the play-in tournament and if the mandate is officially lifted, achieving the sixth seed with Irving fully in the fold is with their reach.
Nets wasting prime KD due to unvaxxed Kyrie, injured Simmons
None of us are getting any younger. The same can be said for superstar Kevin Durant who will turn 34 at the start of next season. Kyrie Irving, who is still unable to play, but can spectate at Barclays Center, is only available for road games not in Toronto or at MSG.
Ben Simmons, who it was revealed this week has a herniated disc in his injured back, will need everything to go right in order to make a return in time for the playoffs.
Irving, 29, and Simmons, 25, are still approaching the prime of their respective careers. Durant, 33, is at the apex of his prime, arguably the league's best player and in dire need of his runningmates to be available and healthy for a championship pursuit.
While Durant signed with the club for five years, his commitment to Brooklyn is unwavering, but how long can he maintain his status as the NBA's premier player as he gets up into his mid-to-late 30's?
It's a question not enough people are asking and frankly, one Nets fans may wish to avoid addressing.
It's the 1,000 pound gorilla in the room, but any way you slice it, if the 2021-2022 campaign falls short of a title, it will be an utter disappointment and a lost season for the Nets and Durant.
Injuries have ravaged the Nets' current trio of stars and even impacted former Net James Harden throughout the regular season and last year's playoffs.
Harden's unofficial trade demand was a combination of factors including philosophical differences with Steve Nash, Irving's refusal to get vaccinated, and Durant being option 1 in the offense.
Harden is ultimately in the place he wanted to be, Philadelphia, reunited with former GM Daryl Morey and teamed up with MVP candidate Joel Embid.
He left Durant and the Nets for greener pastures, but Brooklyn ultimately won the trade in perhaps the short term and long-term with a knockdown 3-point specialist in Seth Curry, a rebounding giant in Drummond and a budding star who became disenfranchised with his teammates and fans in Philadelphia in Simmons.
If the Nets ever put all the pieces together, the rest of the league will be put on notice, but with a part-time Irving and Simmons yet to practice, this could ultimately wind up being a lost season with prime Durant for the franchise.
Report: Ben Simmons has herniated disc in back, aims to play this season
Per Shams Charania in a report for The Athletic, Nets point guard Ben Simmons is nursing a herniated disc in his back that has kept him out of practice since Brooklyn acquired him in February.
🆕 Inside Pass from @ShamsCharania.
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) March 21, 2022
🏀Potential suitor for Bradley Beal should he test free agency
🏀Ben Simmons has herniated disc in back, aims to play this season
🏀 Zion Williamson, Damian Lillard not expected to return this season
And much more⤵️https://t.co/JU1RT55dJo
Simmons received an epidural and the team is seeing how he responds to the treatment before ramping him up from individual drills then to full practice mode, and eventually game action.
Time is dwindling for the Nets to see their trio of stars take the court together, but another interesting nugget from Charania's report is that despite pubic comments by New York City Mayor Eric Adams to the contrary, internally and throughout the league, the expectation is the private sector mandate preventing Kyrie Irving from playing at Barclays Center will be peeled back in time for the playoffs.
Despite all these question marks, the Nets have the shortest odds to win the Eastern Conference at +300. The stars will literally need to align in Brooklyn and that needs to happen fast for those championship expectations to become a distinct reality.
Kyrie left fate of Nets' season up to nonsensical NYC mandate
Blame Eric Adams, New York City public officials or whomever you'd like for why unvaccinated Kyrie Irving can't play at Barclays Center but can attend as a fan, yet the reality is rules are rules.
No matter how nonsensical, arbitrary or not rooted in science the rules are, Irving and the Nets had to know his part-time eligibility was a likely scenario.
When Irving elected not to take an FDA approved vaccine that has flattened the COVID-19 pandemic curve significantly, he left the fate of his and the team's season up to local officials.
And, here we are, approaching the final ten games of the year with Irving's status still in limbo. The Nets even reversed course on their initial decision to preclude Irving from playing in games to start the year as a part-time player, only to allow him to return in January.
Irving had a personal choice to take the vaccine and he put his priorities ahead of the team's, the city's and the fan's. Any way you slice it, basketball is a team sport that calls for sacrifice in many regards, and while it would be acceptable if Irving had a medical it religious exemption, that is not the case.
Irving hasn't truly revealed the reason behind his unwillingness to get vaccinated except to say that he's doing it for the people who are losing their jobs for making the same choice.
Ironically, Mayor Adams fired approximately 1,400 city employees for not complying with local vaccine mandates and now everyone is clamoring to make an exception for Irving.
Is it fair to fire people living paycheck to paycheck for not getting vaccinated, while allowing Irving, a multimillionaire, generational talent to play for Brooklyn?
Absolutely not.
Irving had an opportunity to avoid this disastrous scenario, but made an unpopular choice that he and the team are now bearing consequences of.
In a pandemic that has taken the lives of millions worldwide and there's little room for pity and empathy in Irving's case.
KD, Kyrie first teammates to set long-standing NBA record
When the Brooklyn Nets signed Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant back in the summer of 2019, they could only dream of how great both superstars would be together on the same team.
This past Sunday afternoon against the Knicks, Durant dazzled with 53 points on 19 of 37 from the court. It was hard to imagine that his running mate, Irving, could top those special numbers, but boy did the Nets' point guard show out in Orlando.
Irving notched 41 at halftime and 60 for the game, shattering the old franchise mark set by Deron Williams in February of 2010.
The duo of Irving and Durant became the first teammates to score 50-plus in back to back games in NBA history.
Steve Nash took Irving out with 8:30 remaining in the fourth and his team blowing out the Magic by nearly 30 points.
Irving was wildly efficient from the field, going 20 of 31 overall and 8 of 12 from 3-point range.
Irving became the 32nd player in NBA history to score 60 or more points in a game.
Most importantly, the Nets have now won four in a row and sit three games in the loss column behind seventh seeded Toronto and four behind sixth seeded Cleveland.
With 13 games left, Irving is only eligible for three games with the private sector mandate absurdly prohibiting him from playing at Barclays Center, but allowing him to attend as a fan.
Irving's availability for future home games will be among the most major developments impacting the Nets' pursuit of a title.
Nets' over reliance on KD's brilliance is a troubling sign
When you have arguably the greatest scorer of the modern era on your team, it's easy to see why teammates give him the ball and let him cook.
And Kevin Durant was cooking with gas on Sunday afternoon against the Knicks as he poured in 53 points at Barclays Center.
Durant's jaw dropping play cements him as the league's premier player and had he not missed significant time with a sprained MCL in his left knee, he'd be the leading candidate for MVP.
Among all the superlatives to describe Durant's game, the rest of the Nets' utter reliance on him to singlehandedly carry the team to victory is not a sustainable formula moving forward.
Look no further into the past than the 2021 NBA semifinal playoffs against the Bucks. Without Kyrie Irving and a banged up Harden hobbling around the final three games, Durant scored 49 in Game 5 and 48 in Game 7 to put his undermanned team with tenths of an inch from advancing.
Brooklyn's offense was stagnant for large stretches of that series as teammates merely ball watched Durant and aside from Jeff Green were somewhat non-existent.
To beat the NBA's elite clubs in the playoffs, the Nets, and specifically Steve Nash, can't only hitch his wagon to Durant's hero ball, but need to be clicking on all cylinders to make a championship a reality.
At 33 years of age, Durant is still in his prime, but heavy minutes and even heavier usage rates are going to tire out even the most highly conditioned athlete.
Nash and company can count on Durant to carry them for stretches of games, particularly in the clutch moments, but Brooklyn needs a more balanced attack the rest of the regular season and playoffs if it hopes up achieve its ultimate goal.
LeBron James objects to NYC's mandate impacting Kyrie
LeBron James and Kyrie Irving didn't exactly have a storybook ending together in Cleveland, but that didn't stop the Lakers superstar from siding with his former teammate.
Lots has been made regarding the hypocrisy of New York City's private business vaccine mandate that allows Irving to attend Barclays Center as a fan but not play in games.
FACTS FACTS FACTS!! It literally makes ABSOLUTELY ZERO SENSE!!! They say if common sense was common then we’d all have it. Ain’t that the truth. 🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️ #FreeKyrie https://t.co/EhAcjuMrsL
— LeBron James (@KingJames) March 13, 2022
James is calling it how he sees it regardless of how is personal relationship with Irving deteriorated in his final season alongside him in Cleveland and in the years since both of their departures.
At the end of the day, the inconsistencies with the mandate are a bit mind numbing, but the situation is within Irving's control if he were to reverse course and comply with the vaccine mandate.
James has a huge sphere of influence in the NBA, but it's unlikely the league will change its stance and allow Nets' owner Joe Tsai to simply pay fines and allow Irving to play.
Something has to give in a predicament where either side doesn't appear to be ready to blink.
NYC Mayor sends brutally honest message to Kyrie Irving, Nets
For those who thought New York City Mayor Eric Adams, an admitted Brooklyn Nets fan, would loosen the vaccine mandate to pave the way for Kyrie Irving to return full-time, that scenario appears less and less likely.
Making a public appearance to unveil a $2.2 million renovation at Saratoga Park in Brooklyn, Adams responded to a heckler in attendance that implored him to allow Kyrie Irving to play.
Yeah it’s wraps pic.twitter.com/tkHeyHp3AD
— Nets As Depicted By Spongebob (@NetsDepiction) March 13, 2022
"Listen, Kyrie can play tomorrow. Get vaccinated," Adams fired back at the heckler.
As we all know, Irving has shown zero willingness to even discuss his rationale for not getting vaccinated, nevertheless take the vaccine. Irving has made a choice, but now he as well as his teammates and Nets fans need to deal with the consequences.
Something has to give. The Nets host the Knicks on Sunday as Irving will be eligible to sit in the stands, but not play on the court. The mandates were rightfully put into place to avoid community spread, but it's impossible to ignore the hypocrisy that Irving can sit as a fan in his own arena and practice at the team's facility, but not play in a game.
There are 15 games left in the season, only four more Irving is eligible for before the playoffs.
Irving is expected to sit courtside for Sunday's matinee matchup at Barclays Center between the Knicks and Nets.
Unless Adams reverses course in a hurry, there's no sign Irving's part-time status will be changing anytime soon.