Not long ago, the Brooklyn Nets were must-see TV, a one-of-a-kind collection of star power breathing life into one of the Empire State’s most iconic boroughs.

Then, with Harden, Durant, and Kyrie all opting for greener pastures, the basketball world turned its gaze elsewhere.

But that’s the thing about Brooklyn. Both the city and its team seem to thrive when they’re written off, waiting for the cloak of obscurity to give them room to grow.

Don’t look now, but those overcast skies seem to be giving way.

Built to Lose

Let’s get one thing straight. When this roster was put together, no one in Brooklyn’s front office expected it to be competitive.

It’s a mix of young guys, a few capable role players, and one two-time L.A. reject. The direction was clear. This isn’t a team contending for the playoffs or hoping for a sneaky run. They’re fully prepared to lose games.

But they’re not bringing in stopgap veterans just to tank. They’ve kept the core in-house. The players taking these losses are the same ones who stand to gain from them. Learning how to lose is part of learning how to win.

Striving to Win

That said, experience only matters when it’s real. Playing reckless basketball for the sake of development doesn’t just form bad habits. It prevents the construction of good ones.

Jordi Fernandez and the Nets coaching staff understand that. Brooklyn has been clear about its expectations. The young guys and entrenched vets have the freedom to play loose, test their limits, and develop naturally without the pressure of immediate postseason stakes.

Noah Clowney is getting more comfortable on the ball. Keon Johnson looks more fluid in catch-and-shoot situations. They’re growing in real time, and that growth is meaningful. Seeds can’t sprout until they’re planted.

Developing Youth

How often do we see raw prospects ride the bench for years, only for half a decade to pass before everyone agrees: if it hasn’t happened by now, it never will?

A lack of opportunity suffocates young players. And if they’re on a contending roster, the minutes they do get come at a cost.

Nothing crushes confidence like failing without the chance to learn from it, and few things are harder to rebuild than confidence itself.

Ziaire Williams, Day’Ron Sharpe, Jalen Wilson, each has real role player potential. But they need reps to refine their tools, and in Brooklyn, they’re finally getting them.

Can’t Know What You Can’t See

Contenders everywhere struggle with depth. Finding effective role players sounds easy, but the reality is there are only a handful in each free-agent class and even fewer available via trade.

Depth isn’t acquired. It’s developed. It takes time, patience, and a clear plan. You have to know who you have, what their strengths are, and how to maximize them.

Look at OKC. Wiggins, Dort, Wallace. All drafted, all given time to grow.

Brooklyn is following the same blueprint, trusting its process rather than scrambling for quick fixes. The Nets aren’t just waiting for a star to fall into their lap. They’re preparing the foundation for when one does.

Don’t Wait, Prepare

There’s a dangerous misconception that fuels the idea of tanking, the belief that every lottery is stocked with franchise-changing talents. But there’s a reason we call those guys generational.

More often than not, even number one picks need a stable, supportive infrastructure. These are 18- and 19-year-old kids stepping into a league full of grown men. Sure, some have come in and changed the game immediately, but betting on that is a recipe for prolonged mediocrity.

Whoever Brooklyn lands in this upcoming class won’t be walking into a mess waiting to be fixed. They’ll be joining a team ready to elevate them and be elevated in return.