Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov addressed the sellout crowd inside Barclays Center before the Nets played their first playoff game since he bought the team against the Bulls on Saturday night.
“Hello everyone,” kbegan Prokhorov, dressed all in black to go with the team’s “Blackout in Brooklyn” campaign, at center court. “I heard there is a blackout here in Brooklyn. I came to keep the lights on.
“I want to say to our team, let’s keep fighting in the playoffs. And I want to say to every Nets fan, thank you for your passion and for your support this season.
“This is only the beginning. Thank you.”
The Nets used Prokhorov’s vast wealth, committing over $330 million in present and future salaries, to dramatically overhaul their roster entering into the team’s inaugural season in Brooklyn, one that resulted in 49 victories and the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs.
tbontemps@nypost.com