For the first time in Brooklyn Nets history, the franchise held ‘Nets Fest’ at the Major Owens Community Center in Brooklyn. In the past, fans celebrated the upcoming NBA season at ‘Practice In The Park’, but the Nets came up with a new idea for this year: a full on festival. The goal? Celebrate all things Brooklyn Nets and honor the history of the franchise, as well as get excited for the future. NetsDaily was on hand for the first event of its kind.
This festival saw everything from face painting
to manicures, to a built-in barbershop, to an NBA 2K space, to main stage events where Kenyon Martin, Buck Williams, and current players like Julius Randle took part in a Q&A. There were also on-court activations like basketball clinics held by current Nets players, and the bustling ‘Streetball Showdown’, where teams of five would compete for prizes. There was truly something for everyone.
This was a way for the Nets to give back to the community, and that’s exactly what made it so special. While it may have taken ‘Practice In The Park’ away for this season, fans seemed to equally enjoy Nets Fest. For current players like Mikel Brown Jr. and Egor Dëmin, and even legendary Nets like Albert King, community was a focal point.
“I think it’s huge,” Demin said. “Being able to connect — I think Brooklyn is all about the community, and for us, as a team, it’s very important to be able to connect with people, with our fans. For me personally, I think it’s very important to not be separate. I feel like a part of the city, and I want to embrace that.”
Mikel Brown Jr. was in agreement. “It’s very important. As I said before, influencing the youth, the youth that’s coming behind us, we kind of are like role models for them, in a sense. I’ve had plenty of kids come up to me and be like, ‘Yo, you’re my favorite player,’ and just to hear that, it makes me want to go harder, and it motivates me.”
Of course, the main goal was to get Brooklyn Nets fans hyped for the upcoming season, which begins with a preseason matchup on the road against Charlotte Hornets, Tuesday night. They then match up with the Philadelphia 76ers, Washington Wizards, and Miami Heat before the regular season kicks off on Wednesday, October 21st.
With the season inching closer, Dëmin and Brown had a message for the fans, the same message we’ve been hearing all offseason: “Shock the World”
“I think we’re going to try to win every single day,” Demin told NetsDaily. “Whether it’s a game or a practice, or whatever it is, all we need from them is support and being there for us and not against us.”
“My message is just one: Show out,” Brown Jr. told ND. ”Show out. Come to the games. Pack it out. We need all the help we can get and all the love we can get. And two, I’m going to keep saying it. I feel like we’re going to shock the world. I really do feel like we’re going to shock the world with this team and this group of guys that we got. This coaching staff has been pushing us very hard the past couple of days in training camp, so we’re just going to continue to work.“
When asked about his goals entering his second season, Dëmin of course ND, “to win as many games as possible,” adding, “I think our process is oriented now on getting better each day. At least a little bit. But getting better. No matter what, even if it’s gameday, practice day, or an off-day.”
Brooklyn native and former Net Albert King also spoke with NetsDaily: “As I said, I’m from only one chapter of what has happened with Brooklyn basketball. I think that the fanbase has been very good to the team, and we’re all excited to just be a part of it. It’s going to take time for people to realize and see what this team can do, but I think they’re going to work hard, put in the time, and don’t be surprised, anything can happen in the future. So, 60 years. Celebrating 60 years, different chapters, different exciting players, different exciting fans, loyal fans who have been with the team for decades, it means a lot.”
King was also asked about his hopes for the future of this current generation of Nets players for the season: “I think one of the big things, as a former player and listening to the coach, is to go one game at a time. I think that it’s a long season, of course. But I think you have to take it one game at a time. They have to work hard. Anything is possible. You never know in this league what’s going to happen. You don’t always have that name recognition. It takes time.”
The Brooklyn Nets finished last season with a record of 20 wins and 62 losses. The last couple years have been lackluster to say the least. But the mindset entering a new year, holding a 0-0 record, is to shock the world. If nothing else, Brooklyn’s inaugural Nets Fest confirmed what fans have been feeling all summer: the next generation of the Brooklyn Nets are here, and the future is bright.
