Last season, the Nets had a record of 26-56. That’s bad in itself. This season has somehow been worse.
At the time of writing this article, the Brooklyn Nets currently hold an abysmal record of 1-9. They just got blown out by 40 points by their rivals, the New York Knicks. By the time of publication, there seems to be little doubt among NBA fans that they will have an even worse record. This begs the question: what is happening to the Brooklyn Nets?
Less than five years ago, the Brooklyn Nets were supposed to win a championship. The team went all in on a Big 3 of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden, and they were supposed to win it all, finally ending Brooklyn’s title drought. In their best season, they beat the Knicks all three times that they went head-to-head. Things were looking bright for the Nets.
But with injuries plaguing the team and Durant’s foot being too big, they fell short. Shortly after, their superstar core fell apart and missed the playoffs just three years later. The Nets started rebuilding soon after blowing up their core (while making sure to grab draft picks in the process), trading players like Mikal Bridges for massive amounts of picks. Fans were excited, and it seemed like their suffering was soon to be over. They couldn’t have been farther from the truth.
Before the draft this season, the Nets had 15 first-round picks. That’s triple what a team would have if they never made a trade in their life. Five of them were from the 2025 draft class alone. Five first-round draft picks is enough to turn an entire team around. Fans were hyped, and it seemed like the Nets had finally hit the jackpot.
However, the Nets appeared to have butchered their draft beyond belief, drafting players fans thought were doomed from the start. Their lottery pick – Egor Demin – was one many fans described as the worst decision any team made in the ENTIRE draft. Their over/under for sports betting is an awful 20.5 wins. Only the Washington Wizards are projected to do worse this season.
This season, the Nets are a mess. At the time of writing, they’re bottom five in just about every stat that counts: PPG (points per game), field goal percentage, 3-point percentage, rebounds (they’re actually last in this one), assists, steals, and blocks. Their differential is -15.5, meaning that on average, they lost every game by over 15 points. They shoot worse, rebound less, pass less, defend worse, and foul more than the teams they play. Basically, they aren’t good at any aspect of the game.
The Nets were never supposed to make the playoffs; that seemed to be a certainty from the beginning. But there was at least an ounce of hope before; teams can always break out and be far better than they’re projected. This is evident in the Bulls and 76ers who are doing far better than many thought they would. The Knicks, who the Nets have a rivalry with (thought it becomes less and less of one every time they play) are title contenders. The Nets haven’t broken out, and they get humiliated every time they play the Knicks, or ANY team for that matter. It seems to be hopeless for the Nets.
But, despite how hopeless the Nets are this season, there’s still hope for the future. The Nets still have 13 first round picks over the next five years (this excludes the five that they used to draft rookies for this season). That’s tied for first among any team in the league. They have flashes of stardom in their rookies (like Drake Powell), and they have so many young assets that can help them succeed in the years to come.
Cam Thomas and Michael Porter Jr. are both high level scorers that can put points up under any circumstances. And, best of all, the prospects in the years to come will allow the Nets to use their picks to draft potential superstars and build a championship roster from the ground up.
Right now, the Brooklyn Nets are awful – there’s no denying that – but with the right decisions and drafting by management, they can certainly turn their franchise around and make the team contenders in the years to come.
