We talking ‘bout practice — in the park. The Brooklyn Nets hosted their annual preseason event this afternoon at Potomac Playground in Brooklyn. Despite PITP being a longstanding tradition for the team, this year’s get-together carried a fresh energy. With the team having all five of its rookies in attendance today, several players experienced the […]
We talking ‘bout practice — in the park.
The Brooklyn Nets hosted their annual preseason event this afternoon at Potomac Playground in Brooklyn. Despite PITP being a longstanding tradition for the team, this year’s get-together carried a fresh energy.
With the team having all five of its rookies in attendance today, several players experienced the Bed-Stuy fan fest for the first time. Veterans Terance Mann and Michael Porter Jr., who the team acquired via trades this summer, also added to that. This is a fresh team, with a fresh season on the horizon, and it felt that way.
“On behalf of the team and myself, welcome to this beautiful event,” Jordi Fernández said. “We’re excited for this 2025-26 season, these guys here, coaching staff, everybody around, support staff, medical performance, have been working really, really hard, and we’re working hard to represent our fans, support this community, and show the whole world what ‘The Brooklyn Way’ is.”
Fernandez wasn’t alone in shouting out the late great Notorious B.I.G. In fact, the coach’s words weren’t even the half of it. Perhaps the biggest story surrounding the Nets over the past week has been their decision to bring back their Coogi uniforms inspired by the rap legend’s wardrobe. The Nets had the design everywhere they could put it.
Ziaire Williams, gearing up for his second season in Brooklyn, sure as hell didn’t mind.
“We were excited,” Williams said, recalling the team’s reaction to the uniform announcement. “These are super fly. I love them. We’re gonna look fly on the court with these. I can’t wait for our first game.”
Williams and Dariq Whitehead were first out of the tunnel as the team introduced, but Cam Thomas drew the loudest cheers. Nic Claxton, however, was a close second.
This is merely an eye-test, but attendance seemed low compared to last year. However, the crowd did include Kenny Lofton Jr., who bounced around the league on two-way contracts before playing overseas last year. Could be nothing, could be something.
Speaking of international hoops, losing the worldwide pull that Ben Simmons and Cui Yongxi carry might’ve contributed to fewer fans showing up today. Fanbo Zeng generated a decent amount of noise once being introduced, but didn’t have Chinese media hot on his tail like Yongxi did last year.
Shrunken or not, the crowd was well satisfied. The rookies were especially active signing autographs and taking pictures with fans, doing so outside the park after the event technically concluded. Kobe Bufkin even found a follower all the way from the ATL.
Danny Wolf, who also spoke with the media during the event, shared a similar sentiment.
“I’ve done community events, but nothing has compared to this,” Wolf said. “It’s a really well put together event. It’s always cool to get involved in the community like this.”
The abundance of youth at Brooklyn’s training camp hasn’t stunted conviction or hype, even in the eyes of the team’s veterans.
“They look great man, they look confident, holding up well, and learning a lot,” Williams said of the Flatbush Five. “As a rookie, everything’s being thrown at you all at one time. They’re handling it pretty well.”
“It’s different,” Wolf added. “I mean, obviously it’s all that I know, because it’s my first year — but [the team] just has that young feel to it. Still have that veteran leadership but guys are excited to be around each other.”
Once rejoining everyone on the blacktop, Wolf, Williams, and the rest of the team played a few rounds of knockout with the kids in attendance. They also participated in a shoot around. After that, players and their younger, far shorter teammates, did a jersey giveaway.
Contrary to the event name, no actual practice was held today, not that anyone expected to see full speed drills or hear Fernández’s whistle. But for those wondering, Egor Dëmin and Drake Powell did move around well, even if just waltzing about and taking occasional jumpers. Both have been limited in training camp. Sean Marks revealed last week that Dëmin has a torn plantar fascia.
Other than that, all was quiet on the Brooklyn front on this warm September afternoon. Maiya the Don performed. Fans enjoyed cotton candy, popcorn, and had the chance to purchase custom graffiti-like t-shirts, which conjured up a line that could’ve stretched over to Throop Ave.
I talked to a handful of fans waiting for the subway on my way home. One father told me they went to Potomac Park “for his son,” who’s an avid Michael Porter Jr. fan. That seems to be where everyone’s head is at right now — concentrating on the kids. And while that’s led to the abundance of question marks centering around the team ahead into this pivotal season in the rebuild, it’s also what’s led to more optimism we’ve seen in some time.
Both were felt this afternoon in this intro to the 2025-26 campaign. The Nets won’t be a perfect team this year, but they are in a perfect position to inspire, amaze, or perplex further. Here’s to starting one of those, at least. Here we go.
Category: General Sports
