New York City is one of the few places in the world with more than one NBA basketball team. But even with a population of over 8 million people, there are still not enough fans to make the teams equal. When it comes to basketball in New York, everyone knows that the Knicks are king, especially the players themselves.
“Is there a rivalry? I mean, I don’t feel it,” said Isaiah Hartenstein, via the NY Post. “I mean, most of the time we go to Barclays it’s mostly Knicks fans so I don’t know if it’s really a rivalry at this point.”
A look at the standings will reveal a similar position for both New York teams, who are separated by just two games. The real difference is in overall fan support, where the Knicks vastly outnumber their Brooklyn counterparts. Today, the Knicks are listed as one of the NBA’s most valuable teams at 6.6 billion U.S. dollars in 2023. The Nets, meanwhile, are worth just $3.5 billion according to the latest valuation from Forbes.
The Nets Are Forgotten
Following the end of the disastrous “big three” campaign with Deron Williams, Brook Lopez, and Paul Pierce, the Nets did an admirable job rebuilding and retooling their roster to compete. But it wasn’t until the arrival of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in 2019 that put Brooklyn on the map. Finally, with two superstars leading the way, the Nets could call themselves legitimate contenders and things were looking good for a while… until it all fell apart.
Now, with Ben Simmons as the only trace of the Kevin Durant era, the Nets are back to mediocrity. This season, at 13-13, Brooklyn has no hope of a deep playoff run. Even with the presence of Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, and Nic Claxton they don’t have enough to compete with the upper Eastern teams and they’ve pretty much fallen off the radar entirely as a title threat. The Knicks aren’t much better, but they may be in a better position to improve.
The Race For Donovan Mitchell
The Knicks will always be the “big brother” in New York but they could solidify that title with the acquisition of a star. Right now, after the departure of Irving and Durant, there is a power vacuum in the city and the fans are waiting to see which big-name player will fill the void. As a young guard due to hit free agency in a few years, Donovan Mitchell is a prime trade target for both New York teams
With enough picks to make a compelling offer, the Knicks could trade for Donovan without giving up a crucial piece of their core. And with him in the lineup, it could be the final piece for them to make a run. Meanwhile, in Brooklyn, the Nets do not have control over their own draft picks but they have enough quality role-players to join the race for Mitchell with a lucrative package. For now, all bets are off on Mitchell’s NBA future but if one of these teams can get him, it could begin to change the narrative of basketball in New York for years to come.
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