The Brooklyn Nets are trying to define themselves early under Jordi Fernández, and the latest episode of The Bridge gives fans a clear look at how that process is unfolding. The team’s new all-access feature, “Brooklyn Nets All-Access: Inside Training Camp, Preseason & Beyond the Court,” follows the group through camp, preseason, and a few moments that have nothing to do with basketball at all.
Fernández has made the message simple: the Nets want to be known for effort. Entering his third season as Brooklyn’s head coach, he said the standard starts with how hard the team plays.
"The goal of this season, be the hardest playing team in the NBA," Fernández said. "That’s how we’re going to earn everybody’s respect is by playing hard."
That tone carried through training camp, where competition and accountability were front and center. With a roster mixing young players trying to carve out roles and veterans brought in to steady the group, practices had the feel of a team still figuring out its shape.
Fernández also pointed to the progress of Brooklyn’s young core, noting how much the organization’s recent draft picks have grown physically and mentally. Over the last two drafts, the Nets have selected eight players, giving the staff a deep pool of young talent to develop as the rebuild continues.
The veterans around them are playing a major part in that process. Julius Randle, Michael Porter Jr., Keon Ellis, and Moritz Wagner bring experience into a locker room that needs it, and their presence has helped create a setting where younger players can learn from different NBA journeys.
Randle, who previously played in New York with the Knicks, said he and his family have enjoyed being back in the area. He also talked about the value of balance away from the game and how that can carry over into his play.
The chemistry between players came through in several other moments as well. Veterans spoke about helping the younger guys, while the younger players described what it has been like to pick up knowledge from teammates who have already been through plenty in the league.
The off-court side of the episode had its own personality. Fernández stepped into the kitchen at HSS in Brooklyn and made a Spanish-inspired meal for members of the organization.
The spread included paella, tortilla, pan con tomate, jamón, manchego, branzino, and broccoli with romesco sauce. Fernández said cooking is something he truly enjoys, and the meal gave him a chance to share part of his culture with the people around him every day.
Brooklyn also used the offseason to strengthen its connection with the city. The organization’s first-ever Nets Fest showed players spending time with fans, joining activities, and interacting with young supporters.
Randle was one of the players who leaned into that moment. He described how much the energy from Brooklyn fans has meant to him since joining the team.
"I’m really excited to be here, man. Love our squad.
I love our coaching staff, the fans here. Like, this is crazy," Randle said.
The event also gave young basketball players a chance to get direct advice from the roster. Players answered questions, offered guidance, and helped teach some basketball concepts on the court.
Another segment tied the present to the franchise’s past. Members of the organization spoke with younger players about the Nets’ history, using the team’s Stars and Stripes jerseys as a starting point for a discussion of the ABA championships in 1974 and 1976.
With the franchise celebrating its 60th anniversary, Brooklyn is trying to honor that history while building something new. The message from Fernández and the organization is clear: play hard, compete for 48 minutes, and keep growing together.
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Jordi Fernndez Just Put Brooklyn's Biggest Early Problem In Focus
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Fernndez did not sound interested in overhauling the way Brooklyn is playing, even with the losses piling up. He praised some individual performances and framed the issue less as a need for a new identity than for sharper execution within the one the Nets are already trying to build. For a team still trying to settle in, the concern is less about one bad night than about how quickly these small mistakes can start to define the bigger picture. [Read more 🡒]
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The early-season bumps have already started to feel familiar for Brooklyn, and Mo Wagner did not sugarcoat why. After the loss to the Mavericks, the forward pointed to the growing pains that come with a young roster trying to settle into new roles, a process that has made the Nets look out of sync at times and has helped turn a few winnable games into missed chances.
Wagner said the answer has to start with honest self-evaluation, both from the group and from each player individually, as Brooklyn tries to clean up its response after the back-to-back loss to Dallas. For a team still trying to establish its identity, those lessons can arrive quickly in October and November, and the Nets are already being forced to confront them. [Read more 🡒]