The Nets drew a record crowd of 18,413 on March 6 against the Warriors, marking their “biggest crowd ever in Brooklyn” despite being in the “midst of this tanking season,” according to Brian Lewis of the N.Y. POST. Just four days later, their home game against the Lakers drew 18,215 despite a seven-game losing skid. People around the Nets have “privately admitted surprise” at the size of the crowds they have continued to draw, with attendance “on par with their star-studded” Big 3 campaigns from years past. Currently, the Nets are “averaging a fraction under” 17,400 -- ranking 25th in the league -- but their attendance is over 98% of capacity, which remains “solid compared to even some of their better years.” This figure is close to last season’s 17,584, and “more than” the 17,354 they pulled in 2021-22, when they had F Kevin Durant, and Gs Kyrie Irving and James Harden as draws. Despite this, the Nets “employ markdowns and promotions,” yet “the gate shows the Nets’ brain trust was mistaken in its earlier belief that teams can’t rebuild in New York” (N.Y. POST, 3/13).
Nets draw record crowds despite struggling season
