Prokhorov and the “New” Jersey Nets
Mikhail Prokhorov, the new owner of the New Jersey Nets and self-made Russian billionaire, spoke ambitiously about turning around the sinking team which loss 70 out of 82 games last season. Taking media questions at the Four Seasons Hotel in Manhattan, he told reporters that he intends to get the Nets to the playoffs by next season and “turn Knicks fans into Nets fans.”
“I’m looking forward to the season and there is only one way, [that’s] up,” he said, despite ending up in third place in the NBA lottery the night before. Prokhorov mentioned that legendary pro-ball player Michael Jordan was also a third NBA draft pick and that that won’t stop the Nets from winning the championship within five years . “Lottery, it’s random and it’s only the start, but I’m sure we’ll have a great team and create a championship team,” he said. According to Prokhorov the key ingredients to success include team spirit, more players, luck and money, and then “we’ll go straight to the top,” he said.
Prokhorov’s ownership of the Nets makes him the NBA’s first majority investor outside of North America. Along with a new owner, Nets players will also settle into a new home at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn set to be completed in 2013. After facing strong opposition from New Yorkers who say the construction of the stadium infringes upon the laws of Eminent Domain, Prokhorov told reporters that he expects the arena to “add to the community a lot as far as affordable houses are concerned [and] jobs. So it will be a great opportunity for the smaller midsize business, but I respect the feelings of the people.”
In addition, before being approved for the sale of the Nets by the NBA’s Board of Governors, Prokohorov also received sharp criticism from New Jersey Congressman Bill Pascrell who alleged that Prokhorov’s business ties with Zimbabwe violates US sanctions and that he is involved in organized crime in Russia. The proud owner boasted that he is willing to settle the score with Mr. Pascrell with a special offer now that the deal is sealed. “The best I can do is send him tickets for the new season, we need all the fans we can get,” he said.
When asked whether he would be pursuing Lebron James, the pro-athlete which the NY Knicks and Chicago Bulls are also eyeing, Prokhorov shrugged off the question by jokingly replying that he was not familiar with that name. “I never heard this name,” he said. In actuality, he cannot disclose the names of the players he wishes to pursue due to NBA rules. However he asserted that he is “I am pretty sure that I can convince the very best of the best that the Nets is the place that they need to be. I have my own secret.”
After having breakfast with hip hop mogul Jay-Z that same day, Prokhorov said that he and the native Brooklyn rapper hold more in common than just ownership of the Nets franchise. “I share his passion for Brooklyn and I am lucky he is a shareholder of the team,” Prokhorov said. “I hope as the shareholders we can do a lot for the team together.”
Among other things on his to-do list, Prokhorov said he is on the prow for a new coach by December.
