Media day might not be until Monday, but the Nets are already making their feelings known about the Knicks.
Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov took his latest jab at the Knicks while appearing yesterday on FOX5’s “Good Day New York.”
When asked about the Knicks, Prokhorov joked, “Excuse me, what is that name? Ah, oh, Knicks. Yes, I’ve heard about this second team in New York.”
The owner then got serious, saying he is looking forward to seeing the two teams settle things on the court.
“I think we’re getting to where we will have an epic rivalry,” Prokhorov said. “It will be great for the fans, for the basketball.
“I think really, the coming of the arena and team to Brooklyn, we can put finally put New York on the map. It’s about time.”
In addition, recent signee Andray Blatche also took a shot at the Knicks late Thursday night after attending the opening of Jay-Z’s 40/40 club inside Barclays Center with many of his teammates and Nets coach Avery Johnson.
“NYC the nets is yours no longer the Knicks,” Blatche tweeted.
Last night, Prokhorov, Nets general manager Billy King, Johnson and many of the players were on hand at Barclays Center for Jay-Z’s opening night concert — the first event at the team’s new home.
The minority owner of the Nets and Brooklyn native proudly took the stage wearing a road black Nets jersey. He was wearing a personalized No. 4, with “Carter” on the back, representing his given name, Shawn Carter.
“I’ve performed on many stages around the world,” he said. “Nothing feels like tonight.”
The jerseys, which have been long rumored to debut at Friday night’s show — the first of eight shows in nine nights to open the arena — have been leaked over the Internet over the past few weeks in the run-up to last night’s show.