Betting on Brooklyn: We Doin’, Big Simpin’
Per Urban Dictionary, the word simp is defined as “someone who does way too much for a person they like.” This scenario is usually about someone who goes above and beyond for an individual that they don’t have a chance with. But what happens when the simp gets their dream match? We are in the midst of finding this out with the Brooklyn Nets.
Since the Nets first broke ground in Brooklyn, they have always had their eyes on making a splash. This was in line of their goal to building a following in New York from a younger audience and to capture disgruntled supporters away from the Knicks fan base. The Little Brother Effect has always been real for the Nets. As is true for many teams in the new era of player empowerment, the Nets have been simpin’ for quite some time. Over the past two decades they have had their eyes on superstars such as Dwight Howard, Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, and more. Infamously, they went all in on a star-studded lineup featuring Deron Williams, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce when they made a trade with the Boston Celtics that would completely alter both franchises trajectories. This was the equivalent of getting into a relationship with someone who has a great past, they’ve already traveled the world but now they are ready to settle down, while you’re still looking to go on some adventures. Needless to say, the relationship didn’t last long in Brooklyn.
Fast forward to the 2019 season, where all year long Nets fans were hearing about how the Knicks were destined to have the big three of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and Zion Williamson. While the young Nets team was having fun and over-performing, it was still tough to drown out the noise from the Knicks fans who thought it would soon be their time to have stars back in Madison Square Garden. The seeds were planted in Knicks fans heads about what they felt was destiny; little did anyone know that seeds were actually being planted in Brooklyn. Once free agency hit, the Nets started to get in the mix of the conversation but not many gave them a real shot to land the superstar package of KD and Irving. That all changed on June 30th, 2019 when the Nets landed the (big) apple of their eye: the most significant free agent signing in the history of New York basketball belonged to the “other” team in the city when Durant and Irving chose to play for the Nets. Many wondered why KD and Irving, two of the most popular and enigmatic players in the league would sign with Brooklyn. Pieces to that puzzle started to come together moments after the initial announcement was made.
Reports came out that Deandre Jordan and Garrett Temple would also be signed by the team — they were fine players but it didn’t really make sense to be committing money to veterans when the Nets had a young core still present on the team. Then it became clear that it was part of a “package signing” in a way since Jordan and Temple both had connections to KD and irving. Nets fans didn’t care, we had landed the prize of free agency! The fingerprints on decision making would be a sign of things to come.
Flip the page to the middle of the 2020 season, when Kenny Atkinson was abruptly fired; many in the media pointed fingers at KD and Irving as the reason behind the move. However much truth there was to that claim, it didn’t really matter at the end of the day. When you get your dream match, you do what needs to be done to make the relationship work. Rumors were swirling about coaches like Ty Lue becoming the next man up because of his connection to Irving during their time together in Cleveland. Alas, another shocking announcement of a superstar coming to Brooklyn dropped, though this time it was not who would be playing but who would be leading the team on and off of the court. Two-time MVP Steve Nash would be starting his coaching career in Brooklyn. It was a move that no one considered, but the connection with KD from their time together in Golden State was the first thing that came to most fans’ minds once the initial shock faded. What mattered most and still does, is making sure that the duo that chose the Nets are happy with the environment around them.
Even though the Nets have been doing some big simpin’ for the two superstars in the short time they have been here, it is a worthwhile experiment to excite and expand the fan base in New York. It’s fair to ask the question: “should a franchise be giving this much control over to two players?” As a Nets fan, my answer is a resounding "yes!” Although this partnership may not have the same type of legacy-defining implications as past pairings like the “Big Three” in Miami, due to KD and Irving both already being NBA champions, these moves could have a bigger impact regarding a shift of long-term fandom. If all goes according to plan, and the Nets do bring a championship to New York, it would be the first for the city in nearly a decade across all sports, and the first for New York basketball since 1973. The ramifications of that could be immeasurable in shaping the next generation of sports fans in a city desperate for a winner.