The Brooklyn Nets are in the midst of their rebuild as they seek to get back to a point where they are able to entertain their fans by competing for the playoffs. Brooklyn is not too far removed from being considered a title contender, but there are some wondering what the next step will be and Nets owner Joe Tsai gave his take on the fanbase at this point.
"[The] Nets have a sophisticated fan base. They have very strong opinions, saying, unanimously, we should be going through a multi-year rebuilding process, we need to be patient, we need to build through draft," Tsai said about the fanbase in David M. Rubenstein's book "Inside The Owner's Box," per NetsDaily. Tsai is one of several owners that Rubenstein interviewed for the book.
Tsai has been
making various comments over the course of this offseason, especially given the fact that the Nets are embarking their first rebuild since Tsai took over the franchise in September of 2019. Before Tsai became the controlling owner, the Nets managed to acquire superstar Kevin Durant in a sign-and-trade while also signing star Kyrie Irving in free-agency, signaling that the organization was looking to win something soon.
Brooklyn didn't stop there as it also traded for star James Harden during the 2020-21 season to improve their chances of winning a championship while the big 3 were in their prime. The most that the Nets were able to get out of the superstar era was the second round of the 2021 NBA playoffs before losing to the Milwaukee Bucks in seven games, a point Brooklyn was unable to return to afterwards.
As is usually the case in most sports, some Nets fans have called for a chance in ownership/leadership given that they believe that someone other than Tsai and/or general manager Sean Marks needs to call the shots. Tsai has admitted in the past that the goal in this rebuild is to be patient and to make as many good decisions as possible, but he also acknowledges that the fanbase is smart enough to hold them accountable at the same time.
Joe Tsai on Nets fans in “Inside the Owners Box” … “Nets have a sophisticated fan base. They have very strong opinions,” adding fans are now “saying, unanimously, we should be going through a multi-year rebuilding process, we need to be patient, we need to build through draft.”
— NetsDaily (@NetsDaily) September 23, 2026
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets' Joe Tsai gives take on fanbase in 'Inside The Owner's Box' book
