Joe Tsai admitted the Knicks’ championship embarrassed Brooklyn but insisted the Nets will not abandon their rebuilding plan.
Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai did not hide from the uncomfortable reality created by the New York Knicks’ championship.
The Knicks won their first NBA title in 53 years and will raise their championship banner at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 20. One night later, the Nets will quietly begin their season against the Charlotte Hornets at Barclays Center.
The contrast between the two New York teams could hardly be sharper.
Mar 20, 2026; Brooklyn, New York, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) reacts after scoring a basket against the Brooklyn Nets during the second half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn ImagesBrooklyn is coming off a 20-win season and remains in a patient rebuild. The Knicks are preparing to celebrate a title before opening their defense against LeBron James, Jaylen Brown and the Philadelphia 76ers on national television.
Tsai acknowledged that watching the Nets’ crosstown rival reach the top was painful.
“Every year, some team is going to win a championship,” Tsai told NetsDaily. “So it happens that this year that team is in the same city. It doesn’t make us feel very good. It irates our fan base and it is embarrassing.”
Brooklyn will remain patient
Tsai’s disappointment will not force Brooklyn to accelerate its timeline.
Mar 20, 2026; Brooklyn, New York, USA; New YorkKnicksforward Og Anunoby (8) is guarded by BrooklynNetsguard Nolan Traore (88) during the first half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn ImagesThe Nets have already experienced the danger of trying to manufacture a championship contender overnight. Their star trio of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden never reached the Eastern Conference finals before the organization broke it apart.
Brooklyn has since turned toward young players, draft assets and financial flexibility. Tsai believes that foundation is more important than reacting emotionally to the Knicks’ success.
“You shouldn’t let the embarrassment factor affect how you perform,” Tsai said. “We had a plan and we’re rebuilding, and I think right now we are on a positive trajectory. So it doesn’t change my thinking at all.”
Mar 20, 2026; Brooklyn, New York, USA; New YorkKnicksguard Jose Alvarado (5) is guarded by BrooklynNetsguard Ben Saraf (77) during the first half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn ImagesGeneral manager Sean Marks expressed a similar position, telling NetsDaily that Brooklyn cannot allow another organization’s results to alter its path.
The Nets must now prove their patience is producing meaningful progress. They have lost 14 consecutive games to the Knicks, further widening the competitive gap between the teams.
Pressure grows across New York
Brooklyn’s challenge extends beyond the standings.
The Knicks’ championship energized New York and strengthened the connection between the city and its most established NBA franchise. The Nets, who moved to Brooklyn in 2012, must continue developing their own multigenerational fan base while fielding a rebuilding roster.
Mar 20, 2026; Brooklyn, New York, USA; New YorkKnickscenter Karl-Anthony Towns (32) rebounds against BrooklynNetsforward Danny Wolf (2) and center Nic Claxton (33) during the first quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn ImagesThere may also be an opportunity. Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment chief financial officer Peter Stern told CFO Magazine that the Knicks’ run renewed interest in basketball throughout the city, including among previously disengaged fans.
That energy could benefit the Nets if they eventually offer those fans a compelling team of their own.
For now, Tsai is choosing discipline over desperation. He understands why Brooklyn fans are embarrassed, but he also knows that reckless decisions would not close the gap.
The Knicks’ championship has intensified the pressure on the Nets. It has not changed their plan.
