Erik Slater Articles - Page 34

Like their summer, the Brooklyn Nets’ start to the 2022-23 season has been a tumultuous ride. From Steve Nash’s firing to Kyrie Irving’s suspension to Ben Simmons’ early struggles, it was not an exaggeration to say you could not have scripted a worse open to the year. However, the Nets have found success as of […]

Kyrie Irving has missed the Brooklyn Nets’ last six games after the team issued the guard a five-game minimum suspension for his repeated refusal to apologize for posts linking to an antisemitic film. The five-game timeframe passed this weekend, but Irving remained suspended for Brooklyn’s matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers Sunday. According to Marc […]

Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook have never shied away from one another since Durant left Oklahoma City six years ago. The duo has faced off 11 times since the split. The latest came Sunday night with the Los Angeles Lakers claiming a 116-103 wire-to-wire win over the Brooklyn Nets. Durant and Westbrook spent eight seasons […]

The Brooklyn Nets ruled out Ben Simmons for the team’s matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers Sunday. Simmons recently returned from an extended absence while dealing with soreness and swelling in his left knee. The 26-year-old played in Brooklyn’s last three games after missing four the week prior. The Nets did not list Simmons on […]

Seth Curry’s breakout performance on Wednesday was the top takeaway from the Brooklyn Nets’ blowout win over the New York Knicks. For a team searching for shot creation alongside Kevin Durant, Curry’s slow recovery from offseason ankle surgery had been a hot topic. With the Nets in control against the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday, […]

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn has adopted this mindset with Ben Simmons returning from a knee ailment amid a Brooklyn hot streak. Vaughn said Friday that Simmons will continue to come off the bench during a back-t0-back in Los Angeles this weekend. Simmons has struggled to open the […]

Brooklyn Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn provided injury updates on Yuta Watanabe and T.J. Warren at practice Friday. Watanabe turned in a limited practice after spraining his ankle Monday during Brooklyn’s loss at Dallas. Vaughn said Watanabe will miss the Nets’ back-to-back against the Lakers and Clippers this weekend but is “trending in the right […]

Suspended Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving had a productive meeting with team owner Joe Tsai Thursday. Brooklyn suspended Irving for a minimum of five games on Nov. 3 after his repeated refusal to apologize for posts linking to an antisemitic film. Tsai Tweeted Friday that both sides “understand each other” after the meeting and are […]

Kyrie Irving missed his fourth-straight game Wednesday amid his suspension by the Brooklyn Nets. The team suspended Irving for a minimum of five games on Nov. 3 following his repeated refusal to apologize for posts of an antisemitic film, saying the guard is “currently unfit to be associated with the Brooklyn Nets.” Irving apologized on […]

The crosstown New York Knicks-Brooklyn Nets “rivalry” has not lived up to that billing as of late. And that isn’t for lack of interest, but rather the fact that the matchup has been a lopsided affair for nearly three seasons. The Nets dominated New York 112-85 Wednesday for their eighth straight win over the Knicks dating […]

Nets general manager Sean Marks called newly-hired head coach Jacque Vaughn “a catalyst” for Brooklyn pregame Wednesday. “Personally, I like the way the team’s been playing. They’ve been competing at a high level. They’ve obviously rallied around each other, they’ve rallied around the coaching staff, they’ve rallied around JV,” Marks said of the hire. “He’s […]

Brooklyn Nets general manager Sean Marks called newly-hired head coach Jacque Vaughn “the catalyst” behind the team’s improved play over the last three games. After Vaughn took over as interim head coach for Steve Nash, the Nets claimed back-to-back road wins over the Washington Wizards and Charlotte Hornets before dropping a heartbreaker against the Dallas […]

The Brooklyn Nets named Jacque Vaughn as head coach Wednesday after reports indicated they intended to hire suspended Boston Celtics coach Ime Udoka. Vaughn’s new deal extends through the 2023-24 season, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. “Jacque’s basketball acumen, competitiveness and intimate knowledge of our team and organization make him the clear-cut best person to […]

Kyrie Irving and Adam Silver met Tuesday amid the guard’s suspension by the Brooklyn Nets. NBA insider Shams Charania called the meeting “productive and understanding” for both sides, “paving the way” for Irving to work through the steps of a potential return. Brooklyn issued a five-game minimum suspension to Irving on Nov. 5 following his […]

Following a week of unprecedented drama, Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets rode into Dallas Monday on a two-game winning streak. The Nets had a chance to take down one of the West’s top teams and gain more momentum heading into a matchup with their crosstown rival. The game was a back-and-forth affair that saw […]

Just hours after the Brooklyn Nets announced the firing of head coach Steve Nash last Tuesday, breaking news emerged that the team would hire suspended Boston Celtics coach Ime Udoka to fill the vacant position. NBA insiders Shams Charania and Adrian Wojnarowski both made strong reports detailing Brooklyn’s intentions, with the latter indicating that a […]

NBA commissioner Adam Silver is expected to meet with Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving as early as Tuesday, according to Marc Stein. Silver released a statement Thursday voicing his displeasure with Irving’s refusal to apologize for his promotion of an antisemitic film. Less than an hour later, Irving again refused to apologize at Nets practice, […]

The shorthanded Brooklyn Nets may receive a significant reinforcement Monday. The Nets upgraded Ben Simmons to questionable for their upcoming road matchup with the Dallas Mavericks. Simmons missed Brooklyn’s last four games while dealing with swelling and soreness in his left knee. The three-time All-Star did not travel with the Nets for their back-to-back this […]

During the opening week of Brooklyn Nets training camp, Kevin Durant offered his thoughts on the “vibes” surrounding the team. “The vibes have been straight. But who knows what the vibes will be if we hit a skid or we’re not playing well or somebody gets injured,” Durant said. “I think that’s what makes a […]

No Kyrie Irving, no problem. In the team’s first performance since announcing Irving’s suspension Thursday, the Brooklyn Nets dismantled the Washington Wizards 128-86 Friday night at Capital One Arena. The 42-point victory is tied for the largest road win in franchise history and the third-largest overall. The win comes as a much-needed morale boost for […]

The week-long drama surrounding Kyrie Irving’s social media posts linking to an antisemitic film finally came to a head Thursday. The Brooklyn Nets announced they would suspend Irving for at least five games without pay. Irving issued an apology on Instagram hours later, to which general manager Sean Marks said he must do more. The […]

Brooklyn Nets general manager Sean Marks addressed the media at a team shootaround Friday less than a day after suspending Kyrie Irving for at least five games without pay. The suspension came after Irving repeatedly refused to apologize for linking to an antisemitic film on social media. Statement from the Brooklyn Nets pic.twitter.com/699px8XYpx — Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) […]

The Brooklyn Nets announced Thursday they have suspended Kyrie Irving for at least five games without pay after the guard’s repeated refusal to apologize for social media posts linking to an antisemitic film. Despite a statement from NBA commissioner Adam Silver less than an hour prior voicing disappointment that Irving had not apologized, the Nets guard […]

The Brooklyn Nets will be without Ben Simmons for at least their next two games, according to interim head coach Jacque Vaughn. Vaughn said at Nets practice Thursday that Simmons will not travel with the team for matchups against the Washington Wizards and Charlotte Hornets this weekend as he deals with soreness and swelling in […]

For the first time since a heated postgame press conference Saturday, Kyrie Irving addressed the media Thursday at Brooklyn Nets practice. Irving drew an uproar over the last week in response to his social media posts linking to an antisemitic film. Despite a statement from NBA commissioner Adam Silver less than an hour prior saying […]

Kyrie Irving’s social media posts linking to an antisemitic film drew an uproar in the past week. The guard’s heated press conference Saturday in which he stood by the posts, along with the absence of punishment from the Brooklyn Nets, led to further outrage. Brooklyn did not make Irving available to the media on Monday […]

Brooklyn Nets general manager Sean Marks said Tuesday that head coach Steve Nash told him Brooklyn’s players were “not responding to him” in the opening weeks of the regular season. The Nets subsequently fired Nash and are expected to hire Ime Udoka as their next head coach. Brooklyn opened the season 2-5 under Nash and […]

On a day when Brooklyn lost head coach Steve Nash, Kevin Durant and the Nets had an opportunity for a morale-boosting victory. The Nets led by as many as 12 points in the second half Tuesday against the Chicago Bulls. But as has been the case to start the season, Chicago stormed back to claim […]

Several reports have said the Brooklyn Nets plan to hire former Celtics Head Coach Ime Udoka following the firing of Steve Nash. Despite this, Nets General Manager Sean Marks said Tuesday that Brooklyn has “absolutely not” decided on its next head coach. The Brooklyn Nets plan to hire Ime Udoka as their new head coach, […]

Brooklyn Nets General Manager Sean Marks addressed the media Tuesday following the team’s announcement of the firing of head coach Steve Nash. The Nets are 2-5 through their first seven games. Brooklyn ranks 29th in defensive rating and 16th in offensive rating while posting the fourth-worst per-game point differential (-6.4) in the NBA this season. […]

The Brooklyn Nets plan to hire former Boston Celtics coach Ime Udoka as head coach after the team announced Tuesday they had mutually agreed to part ways with Steve Nash. Shams Charania reported the move: “The Brooklyn Nets plan to hire Ime Udoka as their new head coach, sources tell The Athletic and Stadium. Boston granted […]

Following the controversy surrounding his social media posts linking to an antisemitic film and a heated press conference Saturday, Kyrie Irving returned to action for the Brooklyn Nets Monday. In response to Irving’s actions, a group of Jewish fans sat courtside wearing “Fight Antisemitism” shirts during Brooklyn’s 116-109 win. The fans sat between the scorer’s […]

Right before the bombshell Steve Nash firing, the Brooklyn Nets announced Ben Simmons will miss his second consecutive game Tuesday while dealing with left knee soreness. Simmons appeared on Brooklyn’s injury report Monday prior to the team’s 116-109 win over the Indiana Pacers. The three-time All-Star had not missed a game this season prior. Before […]

At moments it was pretty, at moments it was ugly, but the end result was all that mattered for a Brooklyn Nets team in desperate need of a victory. Brooklyn snapped a four-game skid with a 116-109 win over the Indiana Pacers Monday night. It was a much-needed bounce-back win for Brooklyn off the heels […]

The Brooklyn Nets have a significant need for a backup center behind Nic Claxton. Several veteran free agents such as DeMarcus Cousins, Hassan Whiteside and Dwight Howard have been mentioned as veterans who could fill the position. Howard appeared on the Club Shay Shay Podcast with Shannon Sharpe Monday, and the eight-time All-Star said that […]

Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets will be without Ben Simmons when they take on the Indiana Pacers Monday. The star point guard has been ruled out with left knee soreness. Moreover, Nets head coach Steve Nash was unsure of Simmons’ status ahead of Tuesday’s game against the Chicago Bulls. “Ben just has a sore […]

The Brooklyn Nets held a players-only meeting Saturday after an embarrassing 125-116 loss to the Indiana Pacers. The loss, Brooklyn’s fourth in a row, came with Indiana on the back end of a back-to-back without one of their best players in Myles Turner. At 1-5, the Nets are one of five teams in the league […]

Kyrie Irving said Saturday that he doesn’t believe he did anything wrong after posting the link to a film on social media that many have labeled antisemitic. Irving spoke following the Brooklyn Nets’ 125-116 loss to the Indiana Pacers, standing by his posts of the film Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America, which led […]

There’s lazy, there’s lackadaisical, there’s uninspired, and then there’s whatever the Brooklyn Nets put out on the court Saturday against the Indiana Pacers. The Nets put forth as disappointing an effort as you could imagine in a 125-116 loss to a Pacers team on the back end of a back-to-back without Myles Turner. Brooklyn’s non-existent […]