Man, you gotta feel for Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai. New York just wrapped up a championship party for the Knicks that never seemed to end this summer, and Tsai? He’s definitely not celebrating. The dude told NetsDaily straight up, he’s “not thrilled” about those cross-town rivals hoisting the trophy.
The Big Apple’s Bragging Rights Are a Hard Pill for Brooklyn
Can you even imagine? Your biggest rival, in the same city, wins it all. Tsai didn’t mince words, admitting it “irritates our fan base and it is embarrassing.” Ouch. That’s a tough one to swallow. He even said, “Every year, some team is going to win a championship. So it happens that this year that team is in the same city. It doesn’t make us feel very good.” You know that feeling when your buddy’s team wins and yours is just… not? Yeah, that’s what’s happening over in Brooklyn. But here’s the kicker: Tsai is adamant this embarrassment won’t mess with their long-term vision. He thinks you “shouldn’t let the embarrassment factor affect how you perform” in business or sports.
No Detours: The Nets’ Rebuilding Road Is Paved
So, if a cross-town title parade isn’t shaking things up, what exactly is the plan? Well, the Nets are sticking to their guns. Tsai stressed, “We had a plan and we’re rebuilding and I think right now we are on a positive trajectory. So it doesn’t change my thinking at all.” This is a team that went 20-62 last season, grabbing the third-worst record in the league. That landed them the No. 6 pick, which they used on point guard Mikal Brown. And hey, their No. 8 pick from last year, Egor Dёmin, apparently looked like he’s ready to make a serious leap next season after his Summer League showing. They also snagged power forward Julius Randle from Minnesota in a big four-team trade that sent LaMelo Ball packing to the Timberwolves. Randle’s a legit scorer, putting up 21.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5 assists a game last year. He’s gonna raise the floor for sure, even in a stacked Eastern Conference.
Look, it’s still a rebuilding job for Brooklyn. Tsai’s probably right, they can’t obsess over what’s happening across the bridge. It’s all about watching how Brown integrates, if Dёmin truly makes that jump, and what Randle can bring to a team still figuring itself out when the season tips off. It might be embarrassing for now, but they’re betting on the future.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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