Bruce Reznick, higher recognized to Nets followers as Mr. Whammy, has been a courtside presence for many years, waving his arms and shouting to distract opponents on the free-throw line. This summer time, his signature “whammy” earned him a spot within the Basketball Corridor of Fame’s James F. Goldstein SuperFan Gallery, honoring a fan who’s develop into a part of Brooklyn’s story as a lot because the gamers on the court docket.
Reznick’s ardour for the Nets comes from a lifetime of loyalty. From the times when Jason Kidd had them chasing Finals berths to seasons spent close to the underside of the standings, his assist has by no means wavered. He loves the gamers, previous and current, and the group that retains him coming again. To him, the franchise can do no fallacious, and he swears the fan base is simply as loyal as he’s.
“They don’t need a championship,” Reznick stated. “However [the Nets] play, it’s good enough for us. The new guys that came in, if these guys all get together and they make a tremendous showing and we go pretty far, I’d feel just as well as if they were in the basement. I love them in the basement. I love them on the roof. Wherever they are, I love them, and that’s a fan.”
Not each fan shares Reznick’s optimism. The broader fan base has its personal story to inform.
To pretty replicate the fanbase, we reviewed the solutions for traits. We highlighted a spread of solutions for broader questions — one optimistic, one unfavourable and one impartial — and famous the general consensus from all 65 surveys. Surveys that included identify and site had been prioritized, and we prevented repeating the identical particular person greater than as soon as to make sure the widest number of voices had been heard.
These outcomes aren’t scientific polling. They’re a snapshot of Nets World at this time, straight from the followers who spoke up.
“Remember, without the fans, you wouldn’t have baseball, you wouldn’t have football, you wouldn’t maybe even have tennis or basketball,” Reznick stated. “The fans make the game. The players play the game. And I wish them all, even the ones we fight, I wish every fan I meet good health, good fortune and to do well in the game.”
Q1: How would you describe your total feeling in regards to the Nets heading into the season in a single sentence?
Optimistic (40%): “I am cautiously optimistic about watching a young team grow under a terrific head coach.” — David Berger, Tampa, FL
Adverse (18.5%): “This year feels like the final straw for me as a Nets fan — all I’m looking forward to is the 2026 NBA Draft. My future fandom is literally tied to ping pong balls. How sad is that? Joe Tsai, how can the Liberty and Nets be run so differently?” — Jay White, Princeton, NJ
Impartial (41.5%): “It’s a rebuilding year and I’m excited to root on the new guys and see if we have any diamonds in the rough.” — Dan Markowitz, NY
Consensus: Loads of followers described themselves as excited by the youth motion in Brooklyn, desirous to see what their 2025 rookie class can develop into beneath Fernández. There’s a sense {that a} new identification is forming, and followers welcome leaving the famous person chaos up to now.
Nonetheless, simply as many voiced frustrations or disappointment, pointing to missed alternatives within the offseason, the dearth of a real star energy and the sense that the workforce is stranded between rebuilding and contending. A minority took a wait-and-see strategy, not banking on wins however focused on how the season performs out.
Q2: What’s your trustworthy tackle the Nets’ offseason?
Optimistic (50.8%): “I think it was a fine offseason. They re-signed Day’Ron Sharpe and Ziaire Williams to good deals, got value for Cam Johnson and positioned themselves well for the 2026 draft.” — Spen Harris, Bergen County, NJ
Adverse (3.1%): “With [Cam] Thomas, not trading him or signing him to at least a two-year deal is very disappointing, especially knowing he can walk in free agency for nothing next offseason.” — Dylan Burris (Nets Press), NJ
Impartial (46.2%): “Mixed at best. The front office was active, but reaching in the draft and lowballing Cam Thomas left a bad taste. The Michael Porter Jr. salary dump was a plus, but overall, the plan feels inconsistent. Extensions for Ziaire Williams and Day’Ron Sharpe were good, yet this still feels like a team without a clear path.” — Nets Kingdom Workers, NYC/NJ space
Consensus: Followers noticed a couple of brilliant spots within the offseason. Bringing again Williams and Sharpe on reasonably priced contracts drew approval, and the Michael Porter Jr. deal was praised by some because it additionally got here with Denver’s 2032 first-round choose.
Nonetheless, the offseason dealing with of Thomas sparked probably the most frustration, with many feeling the workforce disrespected him by dragging out his qualifying supply as an alternative of giving him an actual extension. The draft additionally divided opinion, as some argued that taking 5 rookies directly wasted precious property and price the Nets an opportunity to commerce up for one more lottery choose.
Q3: What are you most enthusiastic about this season?
Optimistic (52.3%): I like that the Nets at all times discover a technique to show doubters fallacious. With a youthful, mix-and-match roster, I anticipate they’ll outperform expectations — particularly if Jordi Fernandez’s management clicks (which it would). — Laura Malick, New Rochelle, NY
Adverse (1.5%): “Hopefully, the team is bad enough to land a Top 3 pick.” — Sean “Bills” Forbes, Harlem, NY
Impartial (46.2%): “Michael Porter Jr.’s YouTube channel, plus lottery standings.” — Nick Nunez, Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY
Consensus: Most followers highlighted Demin and Traoré because the gamers they’re most keen to observe, with Clowney and Powell additionally talked about as soon as wholesome. Many stated their pleasure comes from seeing how Fernández weaves the younger core into a brand new tradition, whereas some singled-out Porter to see how he fares in a bigger function. A smaller group admitted their actual focus this season is the draft lottery, hoping low wins results in a high quality choice within the 2026 NBA Draft.
This autumn: What worries you most in regards to the workforce proper now?
“I am concerned about the Nets’ overall goals and future. They spent the 2024-25 season tanking and were rewarded with the No. 8 pick in the draft lottery. I do not believe that the Nets should tank for a second straight season and suffer the same fate. … The Nets are constructed to be a lottery team for a third year in a row.” — Steven Shaw, East Meadow, NY
“Failing to signal Cam Thomas was deeply upsetting. This workforce is $7 million beneath the wage ground. Would a one-year, $20 million deal actually be that unhealthy? How are you going to justify alienating a beloved homegrown expertise like this? — James Kelly, Brooklyn, NY
“Are we going to properly tank? I worry we are going to play players who are in the short term better such as Keon Johnson or Tyrese Martin over developing the younger guys such as Drake Powell/Ben Saraf/Danny Wolf etc.” — Wade Yacker, NY
Consensus: Followers’ largest fear is the dearth of a transparent route, regardless of claims from the entrance workplace that the workforce is leaning into endurance. Many pointed to the absence of a franchise-changing expertise, anxious that with out one the Nets will proceed to float in mediocrity.
Thomas’ scenario continued to come back up. Others questioned the tanking strategy, fearing the workforce would possibly win too many video games with Fernández on the helm to assist its lottery odds, or lean too closely on veterans on the expense of rookies. General, skepticism facilities on a entrance workplace that has but to show it has an actual plan.
Q5: Which participant are you watching most carefully this yr, and why?
“Egor Demin. It’s that simple. With no trade ups, Demin is put into a spot where he now becomes our future player, and main rookie on an awful team.” — Ari Kohan, Lengthy Island, NY
“Eager to see how Cam Thomas performs after going the “betting on himself” route.” — Adam Roitman, Brooklyn, NY
“I’ll be watching Michael Porter Jr. closely. He has the highest ceiling of anyone on the team, but his antics don’t fit in with Sean Marks’ culture. It’ll be interesting to watch it all unfold.” — David Capozzi, Bergen County, NJ
Consensus: Few surprises right here. Demin, the eighth total choose, dominated responses as followers consider his dimension, playmaking and capturing upside makes him an intriguing piece for the Nets to construct round. Traoré, the nineteenth total choose, additionally drew curiosity as a doable level guard of the longer term, whereas Noah Clowney’s progress in Yr 3 was seen as a key take a look at of his long-term match. Porter drew loads of consideration, too, sharing with Thomas the strain to indicate there’s extra to his recreation than scoring.
Q6: How a lot confidence do you’ve gotten in Sean Marks and Jordi Fernandez main the franchise ahead?
This part of the survey was ranked on a 1–5 scale, the place 1 indicated no confidence, 2 little confidence, 3 impartial or uncertain, 4 pretty assured and 5 very assured. Moderately than assessing Marks and Fernández collectively, some followers opted to guage them individually.
Optimistic: 25 responses leaned “fairly confident” or “very assured, largely for Fernández.
Adverse: 15 responses, largely geared toward Marks.
Impartial: 25 responses, break up between excessive marks for Fernández and skepticism towards Marks.
Consensus: Followers are overwhelmingly assured in Fernández, with many giving him a ‘4’ (pretty assured) or ‘5’ (very assured), typically calling him the franchise’s brightest spot. Marks, nevertheless, proved way more divisive.
A big share rated Marks a ‘1’ (no confidence) or ‘2’ (little confidence), citing failed star-chasing, roster development points and Thomas’ contract scenario. Nonetheless, some defended him, pointing to what he inherited from the earlier regime and his success in restocking property.
So, the consensus is obvious: Followers consider in Fernández. Marks, however, struggles for belief — neutrality at greatest, hostility at worst.
Q7: As a fan, do you see your self proper now as hopeful, pissed off, skeptical or affected person?
Hopeful: “I think the Nets are still a market for stars, we just need to give them a reason to come. The Nets are in a much better spot now than when Sean Marks took over.” — Dylan Krauss, Lengthy Island, NY
Annoyed: “If I wasn’t such a die hard, I would find another team to root for, but I have been a Nets fan since the days of Kenny Anderson, Derrick Coleman and Dražen Petrović. I can’t give it up. It does, however, feel like there is no rock bottom with this team.” — Justin Geller, Bergen County, NJ
Skeptical: “My skepticism comes from the fact that this front office has not had the best resume in terms of roster building and on-court success aside from 2020-21. The Nets have not hit on an early first-round pick honestly since Brook Lopez and have made a myriad of poor free-agent signings and trades.” — Justin Thomas, New Rochelle, NY
Affected person: “What else am I going to do? Root for the Knicks? Never. I’d like the Nets to succeed and win, but I don’t begrudge (most) of the moves from the past five or six years, they just didn’t work out. Time for a total rebuild and see if we can succeed that way.” — Brian Maillard, Boonton, NJ
Consensus: Most followers described themselves as hopeful or affected person, pointing to belief in Fernández, pleasure across the rookies and a willingness to let an actual rebuild run its course. Nonetheless, a large group leaned unfavourable, calling themselves pissed off or skeptical, typically citing Marks, the Thomas saga or years of failed fast fixes.
Others landed in between “skeptical but patient” or “hopeful but cautious”, telling of a conflicted fanbase. Some nonetheless maintain religion within the course of however enter this season with loads of doubt formed by latest franchise historical past.
Q8: When you might say one factor on to the Nets group, what wouldn’t it be?
Optimistic (47.7%): “Don’t rush it. We have been dealt a good hand; we just had first-round picks, and we have so many more coming. Bet on yourselves, the scouts, the front office, hit on a few picks and in five years (maybe less) we will have an amazing home-grown team that the city can really get behind and support. In Jordi we trust! Make Cam Thomas a Net for life!” — Jake Leon, CT
Adverse (7.7%): “You are in danger of this franchise losing any ounce of relevancy it has left, so you better find something to do about it — and quickly.” — Paul Myron, Truthful Garden, NJ
Impartial (44.6%): “Please, for the love of God, change the courts back to what they were when we first moved to Brooklyn. The grey courts are dull and dark when you go into the Barclays Center. It’s not the vibe. Change. The. Court.” — Alex Azarm, Manhattan, NY
Consensus: Briefly, Nets followers need readability and transparency. Many need the entrance workplace to select a lane and keep it up, whether or not that’s tanking or leaning into rookie growth. Some confused honesty and respect for the fanbase, whereas others had been pissed off over issues like ticket costs, weak communication and the dearth of long-term imaginative and prescient. Others referred to as for authenticity, to honor the workforce’s New Jersey roots.
Tones ranged from hopeful to pissed off, however the message was clear: Followers will assist the Nets in the event that they see an actual, constant plan. What they received’t tolerate anymore are fast fixes and empty guarantees.
