Inside The Nets

Adam Silver sees the Brooklyn Nets as a fantastic representative for the NBA internationally

The Nets are now the most prolific team playing in international NBA games.

Peter Sunjic

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With the game in Paris, the Brooklyn Nets now hold the record for most games outside the United States and Canada, at 23. Besides their recent game in France against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Nets have played worldwide, including China, England, and many more.

Brooklyn has gained a reputation for being a reliable team for international games that even NBA Commissioner Adam Silver noticed and commended the organization. Before the NBA Paris Game, Silver held a presser that involved him answering a question about the Nets.

“Brooklyn Nets have done a fantastic job. It began with Mikhail Prokhorov, you know, an international owner who embraced travel. Of course, he was from Russia, but also he brought his team to China. Joe Tsai has picked right up on those efforts,” Silver said in a pre-game press conference. 

“By embracing it, it helps the entire league because they’re in a game that’s televised, and the interest they’re creating not just for the Brooklyn Nets for all teams.”

Helping the NBA widen its reach

The Nets have been one of the first teams to embrace the notion that basketball is an international sport. Mikhail Prokhorov became the Nets’ principal owner in 2010 and expanded the Nets’ reach in other countries.

Brooklyn has also signed plenty of international players since 2010 with names like Bojan Bogdanovic, Patty Mills, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, and more have helped the organization become a prominent figure in international communities.

According to Brian Lewis of the New York Post, the Nets have become one of the most iconic teams for international fans. The organization is fifth in unique international viewers on NBA League Pass, eighth in the NBA App’s favorites section, and ninth in Instagram followers. This kind of reach not only helps the team but brings eyes to the general public worldwide too.

The Nets will keep playing these international games

When given the opportunity, you can expect Brooklyn to keep capitalizing on the opportunity to help the league reach a wider audience. Even when Prokhorov sold the team, Joe Tsai replaced him. Tsai wants the NBA to reach greater heights and the Nets will be instrumental for Silver and the NBA’s higher-ups.

Moving forward, expect the Brooklyn Nets to remain a team that plays in the league’s international games because they already have a rich track record and the commissioner trusts them to keep playing.

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Peter Sunjic
PETER SUNJIC

Peter's journey with basketball commenced in the first grade, and it has since evolved into an integral part of his life. Standing on the brink of a potential professional playing career, Peter ultimately chose to pursue a degree in Political Science and Journalism in Zagreb, Croatia. Despite this academic pursuit, his deep-rooted love for the game of basketball endured, undiminished. Now, as a writer and editor, Peter finds an avenue to channel his unwavering passion for basketball-related news and analysis. Whether it's deciphering the latest happenings or delving into the lore of old-school basketball, he covers every corner of the NBA world.

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