Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai admitted watching the Knicks capture their first championship in 53 years was embarrassing for his franchise, particularly with Brooklyn coming off another difficult season.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 doesnt make us feel very good. It irates our fan base and it is embarrassing.The contrast between the two New York teams couldnt have been much greater last season.While the Knicks finished the job and celebrated in front of more than two million people at their championship parade through Manhattan, Brooklyn went 20-62, posted the NBAs third-worst record and missed the playoffs for a third consecutive season.But Tsai isnt allowing the Knicks success to push the Nets into changing their long-term approach.But in business or in competition in sports, or in anything you shouldnt let the embarrassment factor affect how you perform. [We] had a plan and were rebuilding, and I think right now we are on a positive trajectory. So it doesnt change my thinking at all, Tsai added.Interestingly, other members of the Nets organization see an opportunity in the Knicks success.Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment chief financial officer Peter Stern believes the increased attention on basketball throughout New York could ultimately benefit the Nets.We think about mostly just tailwinds, Stern told CFO Magazine. We want more people loving basketball, and the Knicks championship or I should say, even their deep playoff runs previously really activated many dormant fans.Fans got to engage with it and appreciate this special thing called the NBA in a different way. This year, there were plenty of folks around New York who maybe werent basketball fans who ended up at a watch party or engaged in some way, shape or form with the playoffs. Thats a great thing for us as the Nets and Liberty continue to grow in Brooklyn.Brooklyns rebuild will continue with another young roster in 2026-27, including No. 6 pick Mikel Brown Jr.READ MORE: Tyrese Haliburton Calls Out NBA Schedule Over Return
