Nets owner Mikhail Prokorhov attended Wednesday night’s 127-110 defeat of Atlanta at London’s O2 Arena, the first Brooklyn game he’s witnessed in person since the season opener last November. Quizzed by traveling US media, Prokhorov bristled at suggestions his absenteeism is hurting the the team, with the following quotes supplied by the New York Daily News’ Stefan Bondy :
“Frankly speaking, there’s a lot of criticism that I am not in Brooklyn. But I just have a question for you: Do you really think you need me sitting in the arena to see a game?” said Prokhorov, noting that he has been busy preparing for the Winter Olympics in Sochi as the president of Russia’s Biathlon Union. “My friends, we are living in the 21st century. And in spite of the fact I have no computer, I still have a subscription for NBA games and, for me, it’s like enough to even have a look on the stats so you can understand what is going on. . . .So like I’m full in, I’m all in for this team and I think it’s the only way how to reach championship.”
“What is more important is that Jason Kidd is becoming more and more comfortable. And what is important is he has the support of the players,” Prokhorov said when asked about the difference between Kidd and Johnson. “And that’s the only way how we can conduct together. So everything is OK because, of course, we can’t make any excuse with injuries. And what I’m glad to see is the players stepping up in the situation. Now everything is more or less OK.”
Prokhorov also seemed to back GM Billy King, saying he and the team will do “our best to make him Executive of the Year.”