Deron Williams was at a Nike event in Brooklyn Saturday when Jared Zwerling caught up with him. D-Will admitted that he and his teammates didn't tell the truth last season about the Nets rivalry with the Knicks. It wasn't "just another game."
In an interview with Russian Television that aired earlier this week, Brett Yormark spoke extensively about the Nets business plans including whether the team factors marketability into player personnel decisions.
One under-appreciated aspect of Barclays Center is a 400-space bike parking lot at the rear of the building. No more. The Nets and the arena are pushing bike valets, with help from Mayor Bloomberg and an advocacy group, Transportation Alternatives.
The Nets are moving their "war room" from the PNY Center to the team's basketball operations campus at Barclays Center for the NBA Draft on June 27. While David Stern and Adam Silver will be calling out names, Nets execs won't be that far away.
Wired's Engineering Series goes behind the scenes at "one of America's most technologically advanced arenas," as an overnight conversion crew transforms Barclays Center from a sold-out concert venue to a basketball stadium for the Brooklyn Nets.
It's the ultimate Brooklyn hipster perk: bike valets. Starting Wednesday night at Barclays Center, arena management and Transportation Alternatives, an advocacy group, will team up to provide the service at the arena's northeast corner.
In an e-mail to Nets fans about the summer, Brett Yormark pronounces himself, "happy but not satisfied" with the season past, but optimistic going forward, both in terms of on-court and off-court operations.
It is the biggest story of the day (apparently): The Nets have been quietly pumping fragrances into the ventilation system at Barclays Center (apparently). The Nets aren't talking but some say ScentAir has the olfactory contract.
The Nets have quietly posted, a new, more Brooklyn-themed version of John Forte's "Brooklyn: Something to Lean on." The video features more Brooklyn and more game action, as well as more of Forte, a Brooklyn native.
Abraham Madkour, executive editor of Sports Business Journal, is out with the magazine's annual NBA Season Honors. The Nets were cited as the league's "biggest turnaround." Citing team insiders, SBJ says gate receipts jumped 250 percent.
In an interview with WCBS Radio, Brett Yormark put the Nets Game 7 Saturday in the context of the team's long journey to Brooklyn and how it's a "pretty big moment for us."
Yonsan Johnson, he changed it to honor his idol, works in a factory in northern China, a man with a little money and no wife. At 24, though, he has a love: Joe Johnson. Please be seated. You are about to be entertained.
"It's the fourth quarter," the deep baritone cascades down from the speakers above. David Diamante is standing, his face on the big screen hanging above center court. It's time to stand up and cheer, now a ritual at Nets home games.
Sports Business Journal reports that the Nets' 23.1 percent increase in attendance this season led the NBA, far outpacing the Houston Rockets, at 8.5 percent and the Pacers and Raptors, who were up 7.8 percent each.
Restaurants are starting to spring up around Barclays Center. The big addition is likely to be Brooklyn SkyBox.across from the arena on Flatbush. Tony Roma's is opening up on Atlantic Avenue as well.
Elisa Padilla, vice-president of marketing for the Nets and Barclays Center, says the Nets are working on a Spanish-language website that will be distinct from the NBA offering.
As part of its Section 15 coverage, the New York Times features Jerome Dixon who regularly works the section at the east end of the arena. Dixon talks about his training, responsibilities and experiences as an usher. "I work for the guests." he says.
Lost in the coverage of Saturday's game was a realization that in the city that never sleeps (on basketball), the Nets looked as good or better than the Knicks did, beating the Celtics. And there's a lot to Brooklyn's rise.
Scattered around Section 1, standing from tip-off to horn, were the usual gang of crazies, bonded by a love of a team once down-trodden but now on the rise, copious amounts of Brooklyn Lager, and appreciation for their benefactor, Gotham Gooner.
Brook Lopez sat down with "Made Man," a mens' style website, and talked of the difference between playing in New Jersey and Brooklyn; who are the NBA's most stylish dressers, his best advice on dealing with the ladies, his favorite movie
The Nets are carrying the "Brooklyn Blackout" theme to its ultimate and logical conclusion: The Nets will wear black at home for Saturday's game. Could help: the Nets did have their best road record ever in their black uniforms.
When the Nets played in their first playoff series in years in 2002, the league had to take over the pre-game and half-time festivities. The Nets own promotions were replaced. Not enough hoopla. No need to worry about that with Brett Yormark.
The Nets are all but assured of homecourt advantage in the playoffs. So on April 20 or thereabouts, Barclays Center will host its first playoff game and as the latest episode of the "The Association" shows, the theme will be "Blackout in Brooklyn."
The next time Saturday Night Live has Stefon look for "New York's hottest club," he should be directed to the Calvin Klein Courtside Club at Barclays Center. So says the Daily News in its story on the "hottest new scene" in New York.
Cory Treffiletti, a marketing blogger, visited Barclays Center recently when in New York. He wanted to see first hand how the arena and team were being marketed.: "While the Knicks may have a sense of history, the Nets represent a feeling of 'now'."
Fast Company is the latest media outlet to take a look at the Nets and Barclays Center's interactive look, apps that provide fans with everything from a way to order food from upper level kiosks to watch the "slam cam."
