The Brooklyn Nets started their first week of the 2025-26 NBA season 0-5, officially beginning their tanking season. The Nets have had moments of shine amongst their individual players, but they are far and away from becoming anything this season. The Nets have not won a single game in their first week of play this season, and it may be for the best. While having a losing streak is detrimental and a bad look for most teams, Nets fans are praising the tank for what it could hold for their future.
Nets Fall to Hornets in Season Opener
The Brooklyn Nets failed to put a stop to the Charlotte Hornets in a 136-117 loss to start the season. The Hornets hit a franchise record, allowing nine players to hit double-digits on the scoreboard for the night. Charlotte outrebounded Brooklyn 50 to 38, and outscored them 53.3 percent to Brooklyn’s 44.3 percent from the field. The Nets could not find an answer to Charlotte as Brandon Miller put up 25 points, with LaMelo following behind with 20 points and eight assists. The Nets themselves put up some numbers, but nothing eye-popping. Nic Claxton led the Nets with 17 points, Cam Thomas had 15, Day’Ron Sharpe and rookie Egor Demin had 14 points each. The Nets struggled to stop Miller in the second quarter after he put up 15 and extended the Hornets’ lead.
Demin was the bright spot in the Nets’ opening loss, with good looks and lots of potential. The shooting is there, but the physicality and athleticism are to be questioned. The Nets’ defense and offensive playmaking looked sloppy, but the driving factor in this season is to see the young rookies gain some experience. Unfortunately, the Nets could not get a look at Danny Wolf after sitting out of the game due to a sprained ankle that occurred during shootaround. Luckily, Wolf was declared day-to-day and will begin his season sooner rather than later.
Nets Lose Close Game to Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers dominated for the majority of this game, leading by as much as 25 in the third quarter to get a 131-124 win over Brooklyn. The game was much closer than anticipated during the fourth quarter after the Nets mounted a comeback and cut their deficit down to a one-point Cleveland lead with under four minutes remaining. The Nets ultimately failed to capitalize on their momentum, allowing the Cavaliers to score six consecutive points, and were unable to secure the comeback win. Donovan Mitchell put up 35 points, Jarrett Allen had 22 points, Sam Merrill scored 22 points, and Evan Mobley had 13 points for the Cavaliers. On the Nets’ side of things, Michael Porter Jr. had 31 points on five of ten from three-point land, Cam Thomas shot 50% from the field and had 33 points, and off the bench, Ziaire Williams had 25 with six three-pointers.
The Nets’ defense was an eye sore and allowed as many as 131 points for Cleveland. However, the Nets showed out for the home crowd and failed to give up, nearly coming back from a 25-point deficit. The offensive prowess is there, and the Nets can perform in clutch situations thanks to guys like Thomas, Williams, and even Demin. Thomas and Demin look to be a good one-two punch that can provide damage for Brooklyn.
Nets Struggle to Stop Wembanyama and the Spurs
It was Victor Wembanyama’s 31 points, 14 rebounds, and six blocks that helped lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 118-107 victory over the Nets. The Nets managed to once again close the gap between themselves and the Spurs after falling behind by 26 points in the third quarter. The Nets turned it up and created scoring opportunities to develop a 26-7 run to end the quarter. The Nets managed to gain their first lead since the first quarter after a 9-1 offensive run, but the Spurs took back the lead with a run of their own to shut down the Nets. Thomas carried the Nets offensively with his 40 points, tying Kevin Durant’s record of 10 career 40-point games for the franchise. While Porter Jr. had 16 points, and Claxton had 10, it was not enough to take down San Antonio.
Thomas was able to make things happen for the Nets and carried the offense, but it was a rough day for rookies Demin and Ben Saraf. Demin looked good when playing at the wing rather than as the point guard, but Saraf did not have it when it came to his shot. Saraf was 0-for-4 with 0 points and looks to need some adjusting when it comes to his shooting ability. The Nets have shown they have fire and the ability to play well against top teams, but the defense was sorely lacking once again.
Nets Get Blown Out by Rockets
Both teams came into Monday’s game without a win to start the season, but the Houston Rockets swiftly defeated the Nets in a 137-109 victory. Tari Eason’s 22 points and Alperen Sengun’s 21 points, six rebounds, and six assists lifted Houston to its first win of the season. Former Brooklyn Net, Durant, put up 19 points. The Nets stood no chance as Houston shot 62.5 percent in the first quarter and led 42 to 25 at the end of the first quarter. By halftime, the lead was 103 to 77. Terrence Mann and Porter Jr. tried to make some noise with 21 and 18 points, respectively. Off the bench, Day’Ron Sharpe had a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Coming off his 40-point game, Thomas only had nine against Houston.
While it was expected for the Nets to lose this one, their defense looked abysmally weak and worrying. The defense doesn’t truly matter at this point, as the Nets are clearly tanking, but there are some holes to fill. The Nets are not an explosive team outside of Porter Jr. and Thomas, so their ability to get into transition defense has been limited. The team is ineffective on defense due to their lack of athleticism. What they make up for in their offense is not enough, as defense is just as crucial in the NBA. The Nets are a long road away if Head Coach Jordi Fernandez wants to implement his defensive schemes correctly on this Nets squad.
Nets Extend Losing Streak in Close Loss Against Hawks
The Nets added their fifth straight loss this season after a 117-112 defeat to the Atlanta Hawks. The Nets have not won a game since the start of the season, tying their 2015-2016 record of 0-5 to begin the season. The Nets started hot thanks to a burst of offense by Claxton and Thomas, but the lead quickly withered away after the Hawks came back to cut into the deficit. The Hawks led 20 to 19 to end the quarter and never looked back. The Nets kept fighting and were close after a pair of free throws by Porter Jr. cut the deficit to three points with under 90 seconds remaining.
The Nets threw away their opportunities after missing their last five shots, leading to yet another loss for Brooklyn. Jalen Johnson helped lead the Hawks’ offense with 23 points, with Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s 18 points, Luke Kennard’s 17 points, and Onyeka Okongwu’s 12 points and 14 rebounds helped back up Johnson to victory. For the Nets, Porter Jr. scored a season-high 32, with Thomas behind with 19 points, and Claxton with 18 points and 12 rebounds.
Despite a good game by Claxton and Porter Jr., the rookies have been looking rough recently. Demin has been struggling offensively, and Saraf has not looked good on either side of the ball. There is considerable upside to the development of Demin, but concerns exist for the other rookies, such as Saraf. While it’s good that the more experienced players, such as Porter Jr. and Thomas, have made significant offensive strides for themselves and the team, it feels like a waste because the Nets do not appear to be a winning team this season. The Nets should not have losing as their goal. Still, the team should be better off playing the rookies and allowing them to go through the growing pains of the NBA to quicken their development, rather than leaving them stagnant and unsure of their future as potential core players for Brooklyn.
What’s Next for the Nets
The Nets are successfully tanking, and fans are already looking forward to the 2026 Draft. The rookies have shown some signs of potential and flashes of greatness, especially in Egor Demin. The Nets, however, have many holes they need to fill. The defense is weak, allowing teams to score at will. While the Nets manage to cut their deficit and stay afloat in close games at times, they often end up losing in the final minutes of the game. The Nets should shift their focus to giving the rookies more minutes and letting them play. While it’s excellent that Cam Thomas and Michael Porter Jr. carry the offensive load, it becomes pointless when the Nets’ season goal is to tank primarily.
