How the Nets' Move to Brooklyn Has Benefited the Franchise

Recently, New Jersey Governor Mikey Sherrill has voiced her opinions on wanting the Brooklyn Nets to return to the state they played in for 35 seasons, saying she "loves the idea."

While Garden State natives would probably love for the Nets to come back "home," Brooklyn has been an extremely lucrative home base.

Prior to the Nets' move, they were the 21st-most valuable franchise in the NBA, ranking within the bottom-10.

Now, according to NBC Sports, the Nets have flipped that metric on its head, valuing in at $6 billion - tenth-highest among the league.

Of course, this influx of money hasn't translated to wins, but the Nets' fanbase and culture has grown strong in their 13 seasons in the Big Apple.

With the New York Knicks in town, the Nets will likely always be the little brother, but the franchise does well to market itself to the fan base.

Some of this fandom began in the early 2020s when Brooklyn formed the super team of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden, becoming one of the most notable squads in the NBA.

In the 2021 season, the Nets were the second-most popular team merchandise purchase in the league, trailing only the Los Angeles Lakers. That season, the Knicks did not even crack the top-10.

Another reason for the Nets' financial success is their lucrative deal with YES Network - the same media group who also covers the Yankees, Liberty and New York City FC.

The Nets signed on with YES Network in 2015, earning the franchise an annual average of $40 million and runs through the 2031-32 season, with options for renewal following expiration.

YES allows Brooklyn's games to be shown on mainstream media each night, despite the plethora of streaming services with current NBA media rights deals.

Combining this impressive media deal with the huge, ever-growing market of New York makes a return to New Jersey improbable.

According, to members within the league, this is the current overall belief in front offices.

"They’re perfectly happy in Brooklyn..." a highly-placed league source told the NY Post. "There have been no conversations with ownership or leadership and the governor or her administration. [They] have no plans to bring the Brooklyn Nets back to New Jersey."

The Nets averaged 17,412 fans this season, nearly selling out every game. despite winning just 17 matchups.

Clearly, the fans love their team and continue to show out regardless of the team's standing, showing the value in being in America's biggest city.

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