The Brooklyn Nets wrap up their preseason slate with a final home game against the Charlotte Hornets on October 21, 2026. This comes after a 144-128 preseason loss to the Miami Heat on October 14 highlighted the team's ongoing defensive challenges. The Nets finished the 2025-26 NBA season with a 20-62 record, scoring a league-low 105.9 points per game. Head coach Jordi Fernández enters his third year tasked with blending new All-NBA forward Julius Randle with a core of five 2025 first-round picks.
Julius Randle's arrival alongside Michael Porter Jr. gives Brooklyn a proven scoring foundation. Porter averaged 24.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 3.0 assists last season before a hamstring strain ended his campaign after 52 games. Randle provides another established offensive option without derailing the team's long-term rebuild. Progress this season will be measured by the development of young players like Egor Dëmin, Nolan Traoré, and Drake Powell. The preseason offered glimpses of potential, including a 124-90 win over Charlotte and a 131-122 victory against Washington. But a stronger Eastern Conference means even meaningful improvement may not secure a playoff spot.
The Nets were active in reshaping their squad this offseason. They drafted Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr. and added Keon Ellis and Moritz Wagner in free agency. Brooklyn also re-signed Josh Minott and Day’Ron Sharpe. Sharpe now has a clear path to the starting center job following Nic Claxton's trade to the Chicago Bulls. The team's identity will hinge on whether its young talent can become reliable NBA contributors quickly. Fernández's system needs to maximize Porter's scoring and Randle's physicality in the paint.
YES Network remains the regional television home for the Nets. The major change is in streaming. DAZN is now the exclusive direct-to-consumer streaming partner, replacing the old Gotham Sports app. In-market fans can subscribe to DAZN for YES Network live broadcasts. Options include a YES-only plan, a more expensive "Gotham Bundle" that adds MSG+, or a Nets-only season pass. Fans with a participating pay TV provider can authenticate through DAZN at no extra cost. Out-of-market viewers need NBA League Pass to stream regional games. National TV games and local RSN broadcasts are blacked out live but become available for replay later.
The immediate focus is the regular season opener at home against the Charlotte Hornets on October 21. After that, the narrative will be about growth. Can the young core develop under pressure? Will the Porter-Randle duo stay healthy and efficient? The preseason results, including a 114-108 win over Philadelphia, showed offensive flashes. But the 144 points allowed to Miami show the work needed on the other end of the floor. This season is about building blocks for the next competitive Nets team.
