Kenny Atkinson compared the excitement surrounding the Brooklyn Nets' upcoming season to a European soccer style environment.

"I noticed people outside our practice facility when you drive out. It’s like Real Madrid. I thought it was funny. There’s a different excitement with the fans," observed Atkinson.

Atkinson also noted the difference in energy from the press covering the team, highlighting the intensity of the basketball discussion.

“Well, people showed up to our press conference. First year it was like crickets. I think it’s a presence. And even during camp, they were watching what we’re doing, then they’re talking to players on the side and talking about strategy. They’re hoop junkies. These guys they just want to talk basketball really."

Kevin Durant opened up about his reasons for signing with the Brooklyn Nets, saying it was obvious the organization was going in the right direction.

"It's not like I had to do any deep analysis of any player here. Just watching games and playing against them and seeing the continuity throughout the last couple of years, it was pretty easy to figure out what kind of team and what kind of organization this place is," said Durant.

Durant went on to compliment Kenny Atkinson's approach to the craft.

"I was doing a lot of YouTube research on Kenny Atkinson and watching interviews seeing how he talked after the game. I really liked his approach to his craft as a coach …. But once I started getting comfortable (with) how he coaches his craft, it started to make me feel at ease even though I never had a conversation with him. I could just see it through You Tube and clips that he was pretty genuine about the game," added Durant.

Kyrie Irving said that Kevin Durant was not ready to play in last season's NBA Final, but that the product was placed before the health of the player.

"We all know K was not ready to play in that environment...he was out 31 days and we put him on a national stage to end up selling a product to came before the person Kevin," said Irving at Nets media day.

There were rumors that Durant could return this season, though Sean Marks recently stated that Durant will sit out the year. 

Irving then emphasized that he would make sure Durant would come back on his own terms. 

"I'm here to protect that...I'll be over-patient with Kevin cause I don't want anything like that to happen to anyone again, especially on that type of stage...I want him to be 101% healthy," added Irving.

The NBA has prohibited Spencer Dinwiddie from using his contract as a digital investment vehicle.

Dinwiddie had planned to convert part of his three-year, $34.4 million contract into an investment and potentially realize profits in 2021 when he is expected to become a free agent again.

“According to recent reports, Spencer Dinwiddie intends to sell investors a ‘tokenized security’ that will be backed by his player contract. The described arrangement is prohibited by the C.B.A., which provides that ‘no player shall assign or otherwise transfer to any third party his right to receive compensation from the team under his uniform player contract.’ ”

Dinwiddie hoped to raise between $4.95 million to $13.5 million. The minimum investment was to have been $150,000.

Kyrie Irving seemed reflective when he fielded questions about his tenure with the Boston Celtics during media day as a member of the Brooklyn Nets.

Irving offered a 809-word response when asked about what changed with the Celtics following his October 2018 declaration he would re-sign.

"I think around that time, it felt incredible, in terms of the energy that we were building, especially for the future in Boston. It was something that I couldn't really explain at the time because, personally, I don't think I was acknowledging the things that were surrounding my life as well. And how to lead this group of guys that I had been traded to -- I wasn't drafted by Boston, I had no type of affiliation with Boston before I left Cleveland. There weren't any works, anything that happened, Boston was a surprise team, with [owner] Wyc [Grousbeck] [and [president of basketball operations] Danny [Ainge], that took the chance on trading for me. And, when they did, and the way our first season happened, and also the way the end of the season happened, and having so much youth and so much exuberance and goals set personally, I think that some of the actual knowledge that needed to be had, in terms of being a championship team, takes more than just two years. It takes more than just an environment that you feel just comfortable in. Hey, I think I want to re-sign here, if you guys have me -- Boston crowd was immense. It was crazy. They loved me in Boston, I loved the Boston fans. 

"Then, two weeks later, things just got really really rocky for me in terms of when I left, I believe you know, after the Phoenix [game], I went to my grandfather's memorial, and he passed on Oct. 23 and, after he passed, basketball was the last thing on my mind. A lot of basketball and the joy I had from it was sucked away from me. There was a facial expression that I carried around with me throughout the year. Didn't allow anyone to get close to me in that instance, and it really bothered me. I didn't take the necessary steps to get counseling or get therapy or anything to deal with someone that close to me dying. I've never dealt with anything like that. So, for me, I responded in ways that are uncharacteristic and, like I said, I had to acknowledge that fact. And I had to acknowledge that fact to the organization first. Because that was our internal bond and trust that we had. I talked to Danny, I wanted to re-sign. So throughout the year, it started becoming more and more clear that my relationship within my home life has way higher precedence than the organization or anyone and I barely got a chance to talk to my grandfather before he passed, from playing basketball. So you tell me if you would want to go to work every single day knowing that you just lost somebody close to you doing a job every single day that everyone from the outside or anyone internally is protecting you for. Like, ‘Hey, just keep being a basketball player.' 

"So, throughout that year,  just became rocky and a lot of the battles that I thought I could battle through from the team environment, I just wasn't ready for. And I failed those guys in a sense that I didn't give them everything that I could have during that season, especially with the amount of pieces that we had. My relationship with them, personally, were great but in terms of me being a leader in that environment and bringing everyone together, I failed. For me it's like just a huge learning experience just to slow down and acknowledge that I'm human in all this. Then also take my steps going forward as reaching out to Danny and talking to those guys, and Wyc, and reaching out to them and letting them know, ‘Hey, look, basketball is [inaudible] tomorrow. I care about you guys as human beings. I know this is a competitive environment but let's move past this and let's go forward. 

"Marcus [Smart], Terry [Rozier], all those guys just want to be great. We were all internally trying to be great and I don't think we were trying to be great as a team to meet at the top. And that happens in human environments all the time, whether people want to admit it or not. There are personal goals that everyone has, family, friends, media, telling everyone, ‘Hey, you need to be doing this, you need to be doing that.' In actuality, none of that crap matters. So everyone has a role to play. And you see the most experience teams end up winning the championships because they all buy in and they sacrifice. It's usually the oldest teams in the league that make it there every single year because they don't have to deal with the same youthful expectations that are unrealistic for players that really have to earn different things in this league to be at that level -- including myself."

The Brooklyn Nets have signed Lance Thomas.

Thomas spent the past several seasons with the New York Knicks.

The Brooklyn Nets have signed center John Egbunu.

Egbunu (6’11, 265) spent three seasons at the University of Florida (2015-18) after playing his freshman year at the University of South Florida (2013-14). As a sophomore and junior with the Gators, the Nigeria native appeared in 58 games (49 starts), averaging 10.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 24.0 minutes per contest. Egbunu did not compete at UF during his senior campaign due to a knee injury.

The Brooklyn Nets and CJ Williams have agreed to a non-guaranteed deal.

Williams emerged in 17-18 with the Los Angeles Clippers and played in 15 games last season with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Williams also played in 36 games in the G League last season.

Brooklyn has a need on the wing with Wilson Chandler suspended to start the season.

Kyrie Irving has been diagnosed with a left side facial fracture and will be listed as day-to-day.

Irving suffered the injury during a pickup game on Tuesday at the Brooklyn Nets' practice facility. Irving went to the hospital straight after the injury.

Irving also suffered a facial fracture early in his tenure with the Boston Celtics in 2017. Irving also broke his maxilla during the 12-13 season and his nose the following year.

The Brooklyn Nets have serious interest in signing Lance Thomas.

Thomas remains a free agent after spending the past four-and-a-half seasons with the New York Knicks.

The Nets have also been connected to Carmelo Anthony, but signing him appears unlikely at this point.