2. First Nets game
Prep for four games against the Brooklyn Nets throughout the 2019-20 regular season. It is the real Battle for New York coming into play, unless it becomes a one-sided feud or a non-rivalry, again, as these teams take shape.
The Nets took the two players most often linked to the New York Knicks in free agency: Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Linking, they max contracts to take their talents to another part of New York City.
Durant’s ruptured Achillies will keep him out for potentially the entire season, leaving Irving to lead the way. The Knicks will take their first look at him in a Nets jersey on Friday, Oct. 25, with just their second game of the season, at Brooklyn.
This game will not have much regular season significance, but for anyone hoping for the Knicks vs. Nets rivalry to spark, this is the opportunity to light the match. It might not create anything noteworthy immediately, but these teams can whet fans’ appetites for a real square-off between teams that have not stayed relevant simultaneously.
Who knows how the Nets will play, too. They succeeded with D’Angelo Russell at point guard, but he is gone. DeAndre Jordan is also around and must share minutes with Jarrett Allen at center. They still have Spencer Dinwiddie, Joe Harris and Caris LeVert, so most of the roster’s core remains intact, but after Irving’s disappointment as a team leader, the book will take time to develop.