The Russian billionaire who owns the cash rich Brooklyn Nets has once again stirred up the rivalry between the Nets and the New York Knicks
The rivalry between the New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets is only starting to redevelop. And the recent comments from Russian owner Mikhail Prokhorov about the Knicks owner are surely going to add fuel to the fire.
In a recently published article in a New York Magazine, Prokhorov described the Knicks owner, Dolan as "that little man”.
The comments made by the 6 ft 8 inch Russian owner – the tallest in the league - are bound to create an intense atmosphere between especially after the Nets have moved to the Knicks territory.
According to the author Will Leitch, Prokhorov was confident were here to stay and re-iterated his commitment to the franchise;
"Prokhorov told me back in December that he plans on attending a quarter of the regular-season games and 'all the playoff ones.' He also made sure that I heard him call Dolan 'that little man,” - Leitch.
The two arch rivals are bound to meet each other in the season opener at the Barclays Center. This would be the first of many battles these teams will go through in a bid to become the alpha team of Big Apple.
This is not the first time the new Nets owner has made comments to fire up the rivalry. The Russian following his takeover of the organization had made it clear that he will go all out to change the loyalties of the basketball
fans in New York. This has all been part of an aggressive strategy adopted taken by the Nets management in order to promote their newly found team.
In order to put out a strong line up for the coming season, Prokhorov went deep into his pockets this off season and made sure that Deron Williams stayed with the organization. The re-signing of Williams was followed by the acquisition
of Joe Johnson over from the Atlanta Hawks. Brook Lopez, Gerald Wallace and Kris Humphries followed and now the Nets stand as one of the genuine title contenders from the East.
The rivalry between these two teams renewed when both organizations battled for the signature of Carmelo Anthony back in 2011. The Knicks won that time, but given the strength of the present Nets roster and the lack of chemistry
in the Knicks one, the balance is tilting towards the Nets.
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