Brooklyn Nets purchase NBA D-League team

Long Island Nets will play at Barclays Center next fall

November 9, 2015 From Brooklyn Nets

Nets point guard Shane Larkin once played for the NBA D-League, which will have a team solely owned by the Nets beginning next fall. AP Photo/Aaron Gash

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The NBA Development League and the Brooklyn Nets announced Friday that the club has acquired the right to own and operate an NBA D-League team. The new team, the Long Island Nets, will begin play in the 2016-17 season at Barclays Center in Brooklyn before relocating to its permanent home at the new Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum for the 2017-18 campaign. The Nets become the record 12th NBA team to fully own and operate its NBA D-League affiliate, while the NBA D-League expands to a record 21 teams for the 2016-17 season.

“Today’s announcement is an exciting one – not only for the NBA D-League, which welcomes the league’s record 21st team; or the Nets, who will have a place for young talent to develop; but for Nets fans,” said Malcolm Turner, NBA D-League President. “The NBA D-League is a place where talented young athletes refine their skills and develop into NBA contributors, and fans in Brooklyn, and later on Long Island, are sure to enjoy watching current and future NBA talent in an affordable, family-friendly atmosphere. I’m excited to work with the Nets’ executive staff as we ramp up to the start of the 2016-17 season together.”

“The creation of a D-League club goes hand in hand with the building of a younger, more athletic Brooklyn Nets team,” said Brooklyn Nets Principal Owner Mikhail Prokhorov. “It will provide additional roster opportunities that will serve us well as we focus on realizing the full potential of our coaches and players, current and future.”

Five members of the current Nets roster have played in the NBA D-League – Markel Brown, Sergey Karasev, Shane Larkin, Willie Reed and Donald Sloan. Additionally, Nets assistant coaches Joe Wolf and Jay Humphries both served as NBA D-League head coaches.

“This is a great step for our franchise,” said Billy King, Nets General Manager. “We will now have the ability to help our young players and coaches grow and develop.”

“The Long Island Nets will be a great brand extension of the Brooklyn Nets, and will give us the opportunity to reclaim a territory that was once ours,” said Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center CEO Brett Yormark. “The creation of the Long Island Nets is indicative of our ownership’s commitment to the Nets and to the franchise’s future success. The new team will also serve as a proving ground for up-and-coming talent in all areas of our business.”

The new Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, to open in the winter of 2016, will be developed and operated by Nassau Events Center, led by Onexim Sports and Entertainment, Bruce Ratner and Yormark, the same team that brought Barclays Center to Brooklyn.