The Brooklyn Nets' popularity was already on the rise. After rocking the NBA by bringing in both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in free agency, though, the Nets appear poised to become New York City's favorite team – and will have the gate revenue to show for it.
As noted by Front Office Sports, Google searches for “Nets tickets” increased more than tenfold once news broke on Sunday that Durant and Irving would team up in Brooklyn.
As recently as earlier this month, conventional wisdom said that a package deal between Durant and Irving would take them to Manhattan, where they would play for the New York Knicks. Those rumors first began surfacing in February, when the Knicks created enough cap space to sign two max-level free agents by shedding onerous long-term salary in the Kristaps Porzingis trade. Brooklyn closed quickly, though, with reports emerging in the last week that Irving was likeliest to sign with the Nets, and rumors of Durant's legitimate interest in joining him swirling shortly thereafter.
The two-time Finals MVP enjoyed another dominant yet underrated campaign in 2018-19, averaging 26.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game on elite shooting efficiency. He was even better in the early portion of the playoffs, playing perhaps the best basketball of his all-time career. Durant missed the second half of the postseason with a hamstring injury, though, and ruptured his Achilles tendon upon returning to the floor in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. He's likely to miss all of next season.
Irving averaged 23.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game for the Boston Celtics this season, one that could be considered the best of his career and culminated in a Second Team All-NBA selection. Despite his statistical prowess, Boston never managed to coalesce at least in part due to Irving’s volatility, a development that’s made it clear for months he was likely to leave the team in free agency.
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