Nets Shift Focus from Tanking to Winning as New Season Begins

The Brooklyn Nets are embarking on a new season with a fundamentally different objective: winning. After two consecutive seasons of intentional tanking and three straight losing records, the franchise is pivoting towards establishing a winning culture and identity. This strategic shift began with their season opener against the Charlotte Hornets.

"It’s about us setting the tone, how we play, our staples and how we approach every single game," said Julius Randle. "I’ve always been somebody that’s fallen in love with the process and the results usually follow. Yes, we’re playing every game to win. We want to win every single day. It’s about how we’re going about it every single day, and are we doing the right things?"

The team's previous strategy of tanking was aimed at securing draft picks, including Egor Dëmin and Mikel Brown Jr. However, due to obligations like owing a 2027 swap to Houston and the NBA's lottery reforms, the Nets are now focused on cultivating a winning environment. This approach is crucial for a young and inexperienced team looking to leave behind a history of deliberate losses.

"Since I’ve been here, everybody’s focused on winning. It’s not like we’re putting development at the forefront. Obviously we’re all trying to get better and develop, but it’s what does it take every single day to come in and do the right things to win basketball games," Randle added. "We’re doing all the necessary things to give ourselves the best possible chance to win every night."

Veterans like Randle and Moritz Wagner recognize the significance of a strong start to build momentum, especially given the challenging schedule ahead. Following the opener against Charlotte, the Nets face a stretch of six consecutive games against Eastern Conference opponents projected to be strong contenders.

"I think everybody knows that. … You want to start off the season right," Wagner stated. "Having a good start to the season — whether it’s one game or five games — means a lot. Yes, I do think it carries weight. It’s funny because I thought about that. We prepare so intensely for the first game, and then in February if you have a back to back you can barely prepare. It’s absurd because they count the same, but it does make a difference because you want to start off to a right start. You’ve worked so hard the last two, three weeks, you want to execute the things you worked on."

The team's path forward includes tough matchups against Cleveland, Boston, Indiana, and the reigning champion New York Knicks. Wagner emphasized the depth of the Eastern Conference and the league overall this season, but reiterated his focus on the Nets' execution and momentum.

"The East is so deep. There’s not one team where you can say, ‘They’re not good.’ The West, I haven’t even looked at [the schedule] much, but I feel like the league is so deep this year, so unpredictable," Wagner said. "I just care about us and what we want to do, what we want to execute, and I care more about that momentum."