Mexico is Nets’ new home away from home

Brooklyn to “Host” Two Games South of the Border in December

August 9, 2017 By John Torenli, Sports Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Jeremy Lin and the Brooklyn Nets will be “Los Nets” on Dec. 7, when they kick off a two-game “homestand” in Mexico City against the Oklahoma City Thunder and Miami Heat, respectively. AP Photo by Kathy Willens

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¡Hola Brooklyn!

That could be the Nets’ new motto as they head to Mexico City this winter to host a pair of regular-season NBA games against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Dec. 7 and the Miami Heat on Dec. 9.

Though the Barclays Center has been the team’s home since the 2012-13 campaign, the new-look Nets, who are in rebuild mode under the guidance of general manager Sean Marks and head coach Kenny Atkinson, are looking forward to expanding their brand on a global scale.

The Nets, soon to be known as “Los Nets”, will be the home team in both contests, meaning their regular-season home slate in Downtown Brooklyn will be cut to 39 games, rather than the traditional 41.

“First of all, on behalf of the Nets and the NBA, we are honored to play in [these games],” said Atkinson.

“I have traveled a lot in the basketball world, been to Mexico City twice,” Atkinson added. “We are playing against two really good teams. The Mexican fans and NBA fans in general are going to have a great time watching us play these games.”

Atktinson, who has coached in Mexico previously, is relishing the opportunity to take his team to its new home away from home at the Arena Ciudad de Mexico, which holds upwards of 16,000 fans.

“I did NBA Basketball Without Borders in Mexico City and I also coached the Dominican national team [there],” Atkinson said of his previous visits south of the border.

“We just really felt the passion of the Mexican fans. If you haven’t been there it’s an incredible city and beautiful city. We’re going to experience it fully as a team and it’s a great opportunity to bond in a foreign country.”

The two-game trip, which is part of the NBA’s Global Games Schedule, is being looked at as an opportunity to build stronger bonds for a team that is hoping to bounce back from a league-worst 20-62 record in 2016-17.

“What we are trying to build here with the Nets is a diverse culture, whether it’s with our staff or our players,” Atkinson noted. “To be able to get out of our comfort zone, and experience a new culture, is going to help us improve as a team and as an organization. We are thrilled that we have a chance to be a part of us.”

The then-New-Jersey-based Nets did play a preseason game in Mexico in 1999, but this will be their first visit under the Brooklyn brand.

“The Brooklyn Nets are honored to be the host team for the 2017 NBA Mexico City Games and help the league celebrate the 25th anniversary of the first NBA game in Mexico,” said Marks. “We are excited to take part in fostering the NBA’s global outreach and to connect with the Nets current and growing fanbase in Mexico. Our players and staff are looking forward to exploring Mexico City and its culture, while providing fans with the experience of two regular season Brooklyn Nets games.”

“I am pleased to be extending the Nets’ global presence to Mexico in December,” added Brett Yormark, CEO of Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment. “These games afford us the opportunity to further expand our international footprint and reach thousands of new fans in a market where the sport is experiencing extraordinary growth.”

The games will be will be available to fans around the world on television and digital media.

Fans now have the chance to pre-register to be the first to know about ticket sales and receive exclusive pre-sales prices via www.nbamex.com/MXGames2017.