Category: Brooklyn Nets Blog

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NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issues statement on Kyrie Irving

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver today issued the following statement:

“Kyrie Irving made a reckless decision to post a link to a film containing deeply offensive antisemitic material. While we appreciate the fact that he agreed to work with the Brooklyn Nets and the Anti-Defamation League to combat antisemitism and other forms of discrimination, I am disappointed that he has not offered an unqualified apology and more specifically denounced the vile and harmful content contained in the film he chose to publicize. I will be meeting with Kyrie in person in the next week to discuss this situation.”

Kyrie Irving, the Brooklyn Nets and the ADL issue joint statement

JOINT STATEMENT FROM KYRIE IRVING, THE BROOKLYN NETS, AND THE ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE

The events of the past week have sparked many emotions within the Nets organization, our Brooklyn community, and the nation. The public discourse that followed has brought greater awareness to the challenges we face as a society when it comes to combating hate and hate speech. We are ready to take on this challenge and we recognize that this is a unique moment to make a lasting impact.

To promote education within our community, Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets will each donate $500,000 toward causes and organizations that work to eradicate hate and intolerance in our communities. The Nets and Kyrie Irving will work with ADL (the Anti-Defamation League), a nonprofit organization devoted to fighting antisemitism and all types of hate that undermine justice and fair treatment for every individual. This is an effort to develop educational programming that is inclusive and will comprehensively combat all forms of antisemitism and bigotry.

“I oppose all forms of hatred and oppression and stand strong with communities that are marginalized and impacted every day,” said Kyrie Irving. “I am aware of the negative impact of my post towards the Jewish community and I take responsibility. I do not believe everything said in the documentary was true or reflects my morals and principles. I am a human being learning from all walks of life and I intend to do so with an open mind and a willingness to listen. So from my family and I, we meant no harm to any one group, race or religion of people, and wish to only be a beacon of truth and light.”

“There is no room for antisemitism, racism, false narratives or misguided attempts to create animosity and hate,” said Sam Zussman, Chief Executive Officer of BSE Global, parent company of the Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center. “Now, more than ever, there is a pressing need to ensure education in these areas. We are putting our prior statements into practice because actions speak louder than words.”

“At a time when antisemitism has reached historic levels, we know the best way to fight the oldest hatred is to both confront it head-on and also to change hearts and minds. With this partnership, ADL will work with the Nets and Kyrie to open dialogue and increase understanding,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL CEO. “At the same time, we will maintain our vigilance and call out the use of anti-Jewish stereotypes and tropes – whatever, whoever, or wherever the source – as we work toward a world without hate.”

As in past years, the Brooklyn Nets will continue to support and participate in Shine A Light, an ongoing initiative dedicated to spotlighting modern day antisemitism.

Additionally, to ensure a sustainable and meaningful impact in driving awareness and education on the important topics of hatred based on race, ethnicity, and religion, the Brooklyn Nets, New York Liberty and the teams’ affiliated organizations will host a series of community conversations at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, in partnership with ADL and other national civil rights organizations as well as local community associations.

InsideHoops.com Reaction: Nice big step here from multiple parties. Collectively, a positive effort. And the large financial donations, assuming they go to organizations that do fight antisemitism, are very generous and an impressive gesture. One issue: What Kyrie said above isn’t really an actual apology. Taking responsibility for doing something just means “yeah, I did that.” Doesn’t mean you’re sorry for doing it. I ordered a pizza earlier, and guess what? I take responsibility for ordering that pizza. As for specifics about the film’s rabid, hardcore antisemitism (it promoted Holocaust denial, presented Adolf Hitler as a source worth listening to, and other disgusting things), Kyrie seems intentionally vague. Hitler hated Black people. Yet Kyrie watched a film that plugged Hitler, and his “free thinker” brain kept rolling with it? No alarm in his head went off? And despite a long-time history of making questionable decisions (Earth is round, Kyrie), he is still, as of tonight, a vice president in the NBA Players Union.

Nets and head coach Steve Nash agree to part ways

The Brooklyn Nets and Head Coach Steve Nash have agreed to part ways, the team announced Tuesday.

A decision regarding the team’s next head coach will be made in the near future.

“We want to thank Steve for everything he brought to our franchise over the past two-plus seasons,” said General Manager Sean Marks. “Since becoming head coach, Steve was faced with a number of unprecedented challenges, and we are sincerely grateful for his leadership, patience and humility throughout his tenure. Personally, this was an immensely difficult decision; however, after much deliberation and evaluation of how the season has begun, we agreed that a change is necessary at this time. We wish Steve, Lilla and their family all the best in the future.”

Via the New York Post:

From Kevin Durant asking for his firing, to Kyrie Irving refusing to get vaccinated to most recently, Irving’s retweet of an anti-Semitic film and subsequent lack of discipline, Nash seemed overwhelmed and unable to handle his star players.

Nash, the team’s coach since 2020, was the subject of a request for termination from Durant over the summer. The star forward also requested general manager Sean Marks be let go. But the situation was said to have been smoothed over, as Durant withdrew his trade request when it became clear that no other team could match what the Nets were asking for him.

Brooklyn Nets Governor Joe Tsai said, “I’ve gotten to know Steve during his time in Brooklyn, and he is not one to shy away from challenges. My admiration and respect for him grew over time as he brought hard work and positive attitude to our organization every day, even in periods of exceptional storm surrounding the team. Clara and I want to thank Steve, Lilla and their family for making this extraordinary commitment. We began this journey as colleagues, we part as friends.”

More from the Post:

“Zero. There was zero input from any of the players on this,” Marks said. “This was a decision that we didn’t need that. Steve and I didn’t need that. Obviously I’ve talked to Joe [Tsai] about this, but the players were not consulted. They were told ahead of time that this was the direction we were going to [Tuesday], but I don’t think we needed that input right now.”

Marks insisted Nash and the coaches had done a good job through the summer, and claimed the players were putting in the work. But with the Nets just a game clear of last place in the East, Marks had no choice but to concede: “It just wasn’t panning out on the court. And whether it was a voice in the locker room, a change needed, I can list the distractions.”

G League: Long Island Nets acquire rights to Loudon Love

The Long Island Nets, the NBA G League affiliate of the Brooklyn Nets, have acquired the returning player rights to Loudon Love from the Texas Legends in exchange for Long Island’s second round pick in the 2023 NBA G League Draft.

The trade is not subject to a physical.

Love (6’8”, 260) appeared in eight regular season games (all starts) with the Legends during the 2021-22 season, recording averages of 8.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 steals in 20.2 minutes per game. He also appeared in 14 games for Texas during the 2021 NBA G League Showcase Cup, averaging 8.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.1 blocks in 25.5 minutes per game. The Geneva, Ill., native played four collegiate seasons (2017-21) at Wright State, recording career averages of 14.9 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.3 steals in 27.3 minutes per game in 120 games (119 starts). Love received Horizon League Player of the Year and First Team All-Conference honors during his final season with the Raiders.

NBA G League: Long Island Nets name Shawn Swords, Lance Harris and Travis Voigt as assistant coaches

The Long Island Nets, the NBA G League affiliate of the Brooklyn Nets, have named Shawn Swords, Lance Harris and Travis Voigt as assistant coaches on Head Coach Ronnie Burrell’s staff.

Swords joins Long Island after spending the last 15 seasons (2007-2022) as head coach at Laurentian University in Ontario, Canada, where he also played five collegiate seasons (1992-97). Prior to beginning his coaching career, he played professionally overseas for a decade (1997-2007) in France and Italy and on Team Canada, including playing for his country at 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia.

Harris enters his second season as an assistant coach with Long Island. He spent the 2020-21 season with the Brooklyn Nets as a video seasonal assistant. Harris previously spent one season (2019-20) as an assistant coach at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo. Prior to beginning his career in basketball operations, he played professionally overseas for more than a decade (2007-19) in Slovenia, France, Turkey, Russia, Italy, Ukraine and Greece following four collegiate seasons (2003-07) at Kansas State.

Voigt enters his first season with the LI Nets after spending the 2021-22 season as director of basketball operations with the NBA G League’s Sioux Falls Skyforce. He originally joined the Skyforce staff ahead of the 2019-20 season as a basketball operations assistant and served in the same role the following season. Voigt previously spent two seasons overseas (2017-19) as a player development coach for the Shanxi Flame, Shaanxi Wolves and the Hebei Win Power in China. Prior to beginning his career in basketball operations and player development, he played four collegiate seasons (2014-18) at North Central University.

Andrew Cobian and Jonathan D’Angelo rejoin Long Island this season as head player development and video coordinator and head athletic trainer, respectively. The Nets have also named Tevin Baskin as assistant player development and video coordinator.

Nets sign Marcus Zegarowski

The Brooklyn Nets have signed guard Marcus Zegarowski.

Zegarowski (6’2”, 181) was drafted by Brooklyn with the 49th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft and spent the 2021-22 season with Brooklyn’s NBA G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets. In eight regular season games (seven starts) with Long Island, Zegarowski averaged 10.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 27.5 minutes per game. He also appeared in 13 games for Long Island during the NBA G League Showcase Cup, registering averages of 12.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 30.4 minutes per contest.

The 24-year-old played in 92 games (75 starts) across three years (2018-21) at Creighton, recording averages of 14.1 points on 47.1 percent shooting from the field, 42.3 percent shooting from 3-point range and 77.2 percent shooting from the free-throw line, 3.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.1 steals in 32.2 minutes per contest. In his junior season, he appeared in and started 29 games for the Bluejays, posting averages of 15.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.3 steals in 33.6 minutes per game. Zegarowski was an All-Big East First Team selection as a junior, All-Big East Second Team selection as a sophomore and was named to the Big East All Freshman team after his first season. The Hamilton, Mass., native finished his collegiate career in Creighton’s top 10 in 3-pointers made (215) and 3-point percentage.

Brooklyn Nets sign Chris Chiozza

The Brooklyn Nets have signed free agent guard Chris Chiozza.

Chiozza (5’11”, 179) has seen action in 91 career NBA games (four starts) across four seasons with Golden State (2021-22), Brooklyn (2020, 2020-21), Washington (2019) and Houston (2019), averaging 3.3 points, 1.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 11.4 minutes per game. The Memphis, Tenn., native returns to the Nets after spending the 2021-22 season with the Warriors, appearing in 34 games (one start) with the 2022 NBA champions and averaging 2.0 points, 1.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 10.9 minutes per contest. In 40 games (three starts) over his two seasons in Brooklyn, Chiozza posted averages of 5.1 points, 1.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 12.8 minutes per game while shooting 39.2 percent from the field, 44.8 percent from 3-point range and 81.8 percent from the free-throw line. He also appeared in and started 10 games with the Long Island Nets, Brooklyn’s NBA G League affiliate, during the 2019-20 season and has appeared in 70 career NBA G League games (68 starts) across three seasons with Santa Cruz, Long Island, Capital City and Rio Grande Valley, registering averages of 13.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 2.0 steals in 33.1 minutes per contest.

The 26-year-old went undrafted in the 2018 NBA Draft after spending four years (2014-18) at the University of Florida. Following his senior season, the Gators’ all-time assists leader (571) was named to the All-SEC First Team.

Nets re-sign David Duke Jr. to two-way contract

The Brooklyn Nets have re-signed guard David Duke Jr. to a two-way contract.

Duke Jr. originally signed with Brooklyn on Aug. 8, 2021, and had his deal converted to a two-way contract on Oct. 16, 2021. In 22 games (seven starts) for Brooklyn during the 2021-22 season, he averaged 4.7 points and 3.0 rebounds in 15.5 minutes per game. The 22-year-old also appeared in and started 13 regular season games for the Long Island Nets, Brooklyn’s NBA G League affiliate, during the 2021-22 campaign, recording averages of 16.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.5 steals in 29.5 minutes per contest. Duke Jr. most recently competed for Brooklyn’s summer league team in Las Vegas, registering averages of 19.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.4 steals in 28.6 minutes per game across five games.

Prior to joining the Nets, the Providence, R.I., native went undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft after a three-year collegiate career (2018-21) at Providence College. Starting all 91 career games, he averaged 11.5 points on 39.4 percent shooting from the field and 37.7 percent shooting from distance, 4.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 30.8 minutes per game. In his final season as a junior in 2020-21, Duke Jr. averaged career highs with 16.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 37.1 minutes per game on his way to being named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team and an Associated Press All-American Honorable Mention selection. Duke Jr. also represented the United States at the 2019 Pan American Games in Peru, where he helped lead Team USA to a bronze medal.

G League: Long Island Nets name J.R. Holden as GM, Ronnie Burrell as head coach

The Long Island Nets, the NBA G League affiliate of the Brooklyn Nets, have named J.R. Holden as general manager and Ronnie Burrell as head coach. The team has also named Matt MacDonald as assistant general manager.

“J.R., Ronnie and Matt bring extensive experience to Long Island, and we’re thrilled to have them lead the Long Island Nets,” said Brooklyn Nets General Manager Sean Marks. “They have all grown tremendously as individuals during their time in the Nets organization and have shown what it takes to identify and develop promising players throughout their careers. We look forward to seeing how they’ll shape the next generation of prospects that play on Long Island.”

Holden becomes the third general manager in team history after spending the past three seasons as director of pro personnel for the Brooklyn Nets. He originally joined the Nets after spending the 2018-19 season as a scout with the Philadelphia 76ers. Prior to his stint with the Sixers, Holden spent four years with the Detroit Pistons as an international and college scout (2014-16), and the franchise’s director of international scouting (2016-18). The Pittsburgh native played 13 professional seasons overseas (1998-2011), including nine years (2002-11) with CSKA Moscow, where he was part of nine straight Russian League championship teams. Holden also appeared in eight straight EuroLeague Final Fours, winning two titles, and was named to the EuroLeague’s 2001-10 All-Decade Team. The Bucknell University alumnus became a Russian citizen in 2003 and helped lead Russia to the FIBA EuroBasket 2007 championship.

Burrell becomes the sixth head coach in team history and rejoins the Nets organization after spending the 2019-20 season as an assistant coach with Long Island and the 2018-19 season as a player development and video assistant with Brooklyn. Most recently, Burrell spent the 2021-22 season as an assistant coach with the College Park Skyhawks in the NBA G League and the previous season as a player development coordinator with the Chicago Bulls. Prior to joining the Nets in 2018, Burrell worked as a graduate assistant with the men’s basketball team at Florida Atlantic University while earning his Master of Business Administration. The Montclair, N.J., native previously played 11 professional seasons (2005-2016) in France, Germany and Poland after a four-year collegiate playing career (2001-05) at UNC Greensboro.

MacDonald becomes the third assistant general manager in team history after spending the last two seasons as scouting operations coordinator for the Brooklyn Nets. He originally joined the Nets during the 2018-19 season as a basketball operations assistant. Prior to beginning his professional career, MacDonald played two collegiate seasons (2013-15) at Fairleigh Dickinson before transferring to University of Pennsylvania, where he was named team captain for his final two seasons (2016-18).