Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Nets fans and fans across the country.
In the world of the Brooklyn Nets, aesthetics are everything — especially during the quiet lulls of the NBA offseason. While fans usually debate jerseys or logos, today we’re focusing on the floor itself: the court at Barclays Center.
The Classic Herringbone Era (2012–2019)
When the Nets first moved to Barclays Center in Brooklyn, the team needed a distinct identity. They introduced
the NBA’s first herringbone court — a fresh visual design that quickly became synonymous with ‘Brooklyn Grit.’
“We wanted a court that was identifiable and different, so that when fans turn on the TV at home they’ll realize they are in Brooklyn,” said then-Nets CEO Brett Yormark. “This court does exactly that.” The bold, V-shaped wood pattern made the Nets recognizable as soon as you turned on every broadcast.
The Shift to Gray (2019–Present)
In 2019, following the arrivals of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, General Manager Sean Marks was critical in helping redesign the court for the new era of Brooklyn hoops. The goal was to better reflect the borough’s “industrial vibe” and the concrete look of local neighborhood blacktops.
“Barclays is dark anyway,” Marks said at the time. “I wanted this to be brighter without using super bright colors. This is simple, to the point.”
The Nets anticipated there might be some pushback from the league, but the NBA liked the design. The next issue was making the design telegenic… “dark enough to come across as gray on television, but not so dark as to muck up the visual experience,” Zach Lowe noted.
Cast Your Vote: Herringbone vs. Grayscale
Which court do you want to see the new era of Nets playing on: Herringbone or Grayscale? Let us know in the comments!
