Nets Insider Videos
Bar none, Nets have assembled most talented, decorated roster in NBA history
The Nets have 44 combined All-Star appearances on the roster with marquee names like James Harden, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Blake Griffin, LaMarcus Aldridge, Paul Millsap headlining a fantasy basketball lineup.
All this is fine and well, but if the Nets fall short of a championship as they did a season ago, they'll be alongside the likes of the 2015-2016 Warriors, the 2003-2004 Lakers, the 1992-1993 Suns and the 2017-2018 Rockets as immensely talented squads that all go in the history books for all the wrong reasons.
Brooklyn needs a clean bill of health with Harden and Irving missing portions of last year's playoff run and Steve Nash needs to show a willingness to go into his newly rebuilt and more experienced bench when things get tight during the playoff run.
Aside from the Dream Team and All-star teams, the Nets could go toe to toe with any club from any era. Time Will tell whether this club delivers on a championship promise, but if one thing is for certain, Brooklyn's talent level is otherworldly and rightfully make it the team to beat heading into the 2021-2022 campaign.
Kyrie Irving is not a fan of NBA Twitter comparing his game to Steph Curry's
Kyrie Irving is masterful on the court with incredible improvisation skills off the dribble and eye popping, dazzling finishes for a player who plays predominantly under the rim.
Steph Curry is this generation's most lethal shooter with tricky handles and the ability to utilize screens well enough to make Reggie Miller proud.
So when backup point guard Mike James took to Twitter and insisted that Irving's all around game is superior to that of Curry's save the long range shooting accuracy, social media went bonkers.
Kyrie more skilled then Steph. Steph just shoot better. Everything is in kyrie favor skill wise. But whatever u say fam.
— Mike James (@TheNatural_05) August 30, 2021
This comment from the Nets backup point guard raised eyebrows and in recent days Kevin Durant even liked an Instagram post that echoed James' comments.
While a small part of Irving must appreciate his teammates showing respect for his game and elevating him into top tier status, Brooklyn's floor general took to social media for the first time in a long time to set the record straight.
LOL, when will all these comparisons of people and “expert hot takes” cease to exist? Like bruh, just appreciate the persons greatness and enjoy what you’re experiencing. It’s like some people can’t enjoy life without comparing the moment to something or someone else
— A11Even (@KyrieIrving) September 4, 2021
In the 2016 NBA finals, Irving most famously hit an eventual game winning 3-pointer in the closing seconds of the Cavaliers-Warriors Game 7 over an outstretched Curry. That shot gave Cleveland its first ever NBA title after overcoming a 3-1 series deficit to the heavily favored 73-win Warriors.
The debate will rage on between Irving and Curry, but fans should take time to appreciate reach player's individual greatness.
Curry's squads have won three out of four NBA finals matchups with Irving's teams, and with Golden State primed for a bounce back year and Brooklyn the favorites to hoist the Larry O'Brien, both players could be on a collision course come June.
Nets finally unload DeAndre Jordan in trade to Pistons, save $47M in salary and taxes
Okafor spent two seasons with Brooklyn after the former 2015 NBA draft's third round pick was traded by Philadelphia to the Nets. Marks signing Paul Millsap and likely inking LaMarcus Aldridge in the near future make Jordan even more dispensable.ESPN Sources: Brooklyn is trading C DeAndre Jordan, four future-second round picks and $5.78M to Detroit for Jahlil Okafor and Sekou Doumbouya. Pistons plan to work through a buyout on two-years, $20M owed Jordan; Nets will save $47M in salary and tax on deal.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 3, 2021
Aging former All-Stars Paul Millsap, LaMarcus Aldridge might not have much left in the tank to help loaded Nets
Flash forward ten years and adding a pair of 36-year-olds even to a star-studded roster doesn't nearly have the same impact.
Brooklyn had a glaring weakness in regards to the quality depth of its front court last season and that was no more evident than by their second round ousting at the hands of Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks.
Aldridge, a seven-time All-Star and Millsap a four timer have all the credentials to step in and make an immediate impact with the franchise.The concern and question marks revolve around the mileage and age on both players and how much they'll be able to bring to the table.
Sean Marks and Steve Nash will likely employ heavy load management to Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, and James Harden, but how will they handle the minutes from the newly signed veterans?
During the playoffs, the versatile big men will provide a boost in the rebounding and inside scoring department, but depending on the matchup, teams can utilize small ball lineups that would likely force Aldridge to the bench.
Raining on the Nets free agency parade isn't the goal, but age and minutes restrictions during the regular season may minimize the duo's impact along with potential playoff opponents' pace of play and utilization of a small ball lineup to negate Nash using frontcourt depth.
Former Nets PG, NBA sensation Jeremy Lin discharged from Shanghai Hospital after COVID-19 treatment
In May of 2021, Lin hinted at his retirement from the NBA after playing for the Warriors G League affiliate, the Santa Cruz Warriors. The cultural icon took his talents to Beijing at the start of this year too serve as the Ducks starting floor general.Beijing Ducks player @JLin7 has been discharged from a hospital in #Shanghai on Thursday upon recovery from #COVID19. Lin thanked all of the “brave” medical staff in a Weibo post and said he is “so touched” and “very healthy.” Lin is currently quarantined in a hotel. pic.twitter.com/kbJGZ5sx9q
— Shanghai Daily (@shanghaidaily) September 2, 2021
NBA's updated restrictions on unvaccinated players may have a tangible impact on Nets
The NBA is doing everything in its power to nudge unvaccinated players in the direction of taking the COVID-19 vaccine prior to training camp opening later this month.
Due to HIPPA laws, the names of the league's players who are yet to be vaccinated has not been made public, but without a medical or religious exemption, the league's players will be unable to perform their everyday job of playing at the team facility or home arena in markets that require vaccinations.Sources: Unvaccinated NBA players in markets with local requirements — such as NYC (Knicks, Nets) and SF (Warriors) — will not be allowed to enter home arenas or facilities for games or team activities conducted there unless there’s approved medical or religious exemption.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 1, 2021
A few weeks back, the Nets put similar restrictions on unvaccinated employees or anyone in contact with players, staff or team executives.
The Nets starters: Kevin Durant, James Harden, Kyrie Irving, Joe Harris and Blake Griffin are expected to be at the team's facility for training camp, but if any of the aforementioned names are absent from camp, concern will start to grow from the fan base that a key player or players will be unable to play due to the new vaccine requirements.
This follows local governmental policies, meaning unvaccinated players on the Nets, Knicks and Warriors are not allowed to play in home games. Visiting players are exempt from the vaccination requirements in NYC and SF. https://t.co/fPePW722Og
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 1, 2021
Recent reports have indicated that as many as 90 percent of all NBA players are vaccinated, but until the familiar faces Nets fans are accustomed to seeing electrify Barclays Center are present for roll call, the more adjuda it will produce for a fan base just hoping for its nucleus to stay healthy and on the court.
Nets' brass challenged with balancing act of load management versus chemistry factor for Durant, Harden, Irving
Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving played merely nine regular season games and five playoff games as a healthy trio. The results in those contests were undeniable as the three superstars seemed to mesh effortlessly and largely blow away the competition with overwhelming talent and offensive prowess.
Getting Durant, Irving and Harden on-court reps in the regular season is important to continue to build a rapport with one another but also for the development of young rotation players: Nicolas Claxton, Bruce Brown along with free agent additions Patti Mills, Jevon Carter (via trade) and DeAndre' Bembry.
At what cost are Steve Nash and Sean Marks willing to incur to ensure the Nets are a well-oiled machine come playoff time?
Brooklyn finished 48-24, second in the conference behind Philadelphia and despite Game 7 on its home floor against Milwaukee, fell inches short of advancing to the conference finals.
Home court advantage is certainly a factor in the playoffs, but conserving minutes and keeping the team's most dynamic players fresh for a title run has to be a top priority. Irving is coming off a severely sprained ankle, Harden a moderate hamstring strain, and while Durant was healthy for last year's stretch run, he helped carry Team USA to Gold in the Tokyo Olympics after shortened offseason, playoff push and prior to that 18-months without playing in a regular season game.
Treating Brooklyn's three-headed monster with kid gloves is not the recipe for success either. Irving has battled his share of foot and leg injuries throughout his career, while the normally iron-man Harden was never able to fully recover from a hamstring strain after showing up late to Rockets training camp out of shape.
So the question remains, what is the perfect amount of games for the Nets' Big Three to play together? 40? 50? 60 or more?
Marks' and Nash's philosophy likely won't be so straightforward as they have the luxury of all players being able to orchestrate the offense so they can staggered load management games play two stars together, one on his own or in back-to-backs and long road trips let the rest of the club's roster handle the heavy lifting.
It's clear that the requisite talent is in Brooklyn to deliver on championship hopes, but managing minutes and the job the team's training staff can do to keep its stars healthy will go a long way in determining the Nets' fate during the 2021-2022.
LaMarcus Aldridge's unfinished business in Brooklyn too tempting to pass up if medically cleared for NBA return
The Brooklyn Nets are among the top teams on LaMarcus Aldridge's short list of clubs he'd likely sign with if doctors give him the greenlight to return to the professional hardwood this upcoming season.
The 36-year-old shut things down after a heart condition he was diagnosed during his college days at Texas resurfaced following Brooklyn's 2021 regular season loss to the Lakers.
The Nets sorely missed the big man's rebounding and shooting touch with the team's offensive output dried up against Milwaukee in the playoffs outside of Kevin Durant's heroics and flashes from Jeff Green and Blake Griffin with Kyrie Irving injured and James Harden out.
In 16 seasons as a pro, nine with Portland, six with San Antonio and last year with Brooklyn, the seasoned vet has never been to or won an NBA Finals.
A second go around with Brooklyn could arguably his last best chance to complete his quest for a ring and cement is legacy as one of the best big men of his era.
Clearly Aldridge isn't the same player he was when he was still in his prime, but his rebounding, mid-range shooting and basketball savvy would serve the franchise well particularly in a razor thin front court that is reportedly soon to be without DeAndre Jordan after a likely buyout.
Aldridge has a few more hurdles to clear with doctors before finalizing a return, but the power forward was sorely missed during last year's playoff run that ended with a second round elimination and could be the missing piece to the Nets championship puzzle this year.
Kyrie Irving, James Harden extension cliffhangers could rock Nets' World
Nets' Gaming Crew to play in 2K League's ECF, Kevin Durant amped for playoff matchup
Durant is one of the game's cover athletes alongside legends Dirk Norwitzki and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
With steaming services Twitch and YouTube broadcasting live streams of the playoff matchup, it will be fascinating to see if Brooklyn's joystick masters can come out on top.Locked in https://t.co/Q305jjPmTP
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) August 27, 2021