Nets Sell Tickets Using Star Opponents

With a troubled economy, the NBA is bracing for a difficult financial season and clubs are getting creative in order to sell tickets. None more so than the Nets. The team is offering fans a 10-game plan that comes with reversible jerseys that have the name of a Nets' player on one side and an opposing team's player on the other.

Fans can make their choice from among Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Shaquille O'Neal, Dwyane Wade, Dwight Howard, Vince Carter, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce or Ray Allen.

"I don't think it has ever been done before," said Chris Granger, the NBA's senior vice president for team marketing and business operations. "I don't think any team has ever given premium items as part of a promotion that highlights someone from another team."

Nets' president and chief executive Brett Yormark explained the reasoning behind the team's promotion.

"We cater to the casual NBA fan, that's our core audience," Yormark said. "So when you think about every arena selling opposing player jerseys at the concession stands, and when you think about attendance always being greater when you have the key matchups and the best players in town, why wouldn't you do it? It gives the fans another added benefit, not only to embrace their favorite local player, but also a member of the opposition that they also came out to see."

Via New York Times

New Jersey Nets

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Najera: Nets 'Were Right To Shut Me Down'

The Nets denied Eduardo Najera permission to play for Mexico in the FIBA Americas tournament because his abdomen injury has yet to heal.

Five months after he underwent surgery to repair a sports hernia, Najera agreed with New Jersey's decision.

"They were right. I wasn't ready," the forward told the Star Ledger. "I learned from the best that I have to slow down, especially with my age and this injury. I want to play so bad; I was under a lot of pressure to play, and I felt like I let them down. But my loyalty has to be to the Nets, and luckily they kicked some sense into me. The doctor and trainers -- and Kiki and Rod -- all said they don't think it's a good idea to risk being reinjured."

Najera is one of Mexico's most beloved athletes, so it wasn't easy for him not to represent his country.

"Oh, I can't tell you -- it was extremely hard to say no," he said. "But I explored every option. The interest in the team was so high. The media was pushing for it. I was supposed to compete, and this could be the last year I can play for the national team at a high level. But it basically came down to not being ready physically. And if I didn't re-injure the abdomen, I'd injure something else.

"This injury has been the toughest to recover for me. This has been such a pain in the butt. Getting old really sucks. You don't heal as fast as you used to. And obviously my brain is programmed like a professional athlete -- I just want to go. I'm used to pain, but you've got a threshold and you have to pay attention as you get older. So I'm trying."

Via Star Ledger

New Jersey Nets

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Courtney Lee Wants To Fill Orlando With Regret

Courtney Lee is determined to become the kind of player the Orlando Magic will regret trading away to the New Jersey Nets.

"I'm going to be a man on a mission," Lee said Thursday afternoon after a training session at the IMG Academy. "I just hope they'll be happy for me when I grow into the player that they wish they had. I'd like them to one day say 'I wish we would have kept him.'"

Orlando dealt Lee in a package that included Vince Carter.

"I'd like to be Dwight Howard's teammate again -- in the All-Star game," Lee said. "They [Magic] have a history of trading good players [Ben Wallace, Tracy McGrady, Corey Maggette, Mike Miller] who did well afterward. I hope that's me. My goal will be to go out and dominate every game, but especially those games [when I play the Magic]. I'll be jacked up for sure."

Lee had high hopes for his future with the Magic.

"The trade shocked me. After the Finals, Dwight and I were talking about things we had to do to get back and win a championship together. He joked about us being the next Shaq and Penny [Hardaway] with the Magic," he said. "I know it's a business, and trades happen, but it's not something you forget, even when you look forward like I am."

Via Fanhouse

New Jersey Nets, Orlando Magic

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