https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/27683304/brooklyn-nets-going-gray-fresh-new-look A year ago, the Brooklyn Nets knew their black-and-white court was due for a refurbishing. The court's minimalist color scheme, unique in the NBA, had remained broadly the same since Sean Marks took over as general manager in 2016 -- and really since the team moved from New Jersey. It had also been wildly popular. Rankings of team court designs over the last half-decade usually placed Brooklyn's floor within the top five. The team took pride in those rankings. The herringbone design in the wood, intended in part to mimic the floorboard patterns in some Brooklyn brownstones, was an immediate hit and tied together an overall look that set the Nets apart. "There was some impetus to refresh things but also some hesitation," says Jeff Gamble, the team's vice president of content and creative. "We were nervous about messing it up. We have seen court designs that have fallen on their face." But Marks wanted change, to put his artistic imprint on the franchise he has helped reinvent, and he had a radical idea: a gray floor meant to evoke blacktop courts, the streets of Brooklyn, and the borough's "industrial vibe," he says. Gray has been on the fringes of the team's Brooklyn-era palette, including on the alternate Brooklyn Dodgers-themed uniforms they wore in past seasons. Everything Marks and the Nets' creative team toyed with from there centered around gray. It was a risk -- an unknown. The NBA says it has never had an all-gray court, though a few teams -- the New Orleans Pelicans, Denver Nuggets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Milwaukee Bucks, and others -- have shaded enlarged logos and landscapes into sections of their floors. Years ago, one team proposed a black floor designed to recall darker asphalt courts. The league rejected it, arguing it would not play well on television. The Nets anticipated some pushback. "We were prepared to present a more traditional option as Plan B in case the NBA was not as receptive," says Steve Vollmer, the Nets' creative director. "But we were all-in on gray." There was no pushback. The league liked the idea right away, Marks says. Brett Yormark, then the team's CEO, supported the new concept. (Yormark stepped down last month as Mikhail Prokhorov, the team's owner, prepared to finalize the sale of the team to Joseph Tsai.)
anything to cover up the pathetic lower bowl situation...Russ about to go from raucous OKC home games to the local library atmosphere at TC...u hate to see it
I’ll wait to see how this looks on a TV screen, but yeah, I’m not feeling this look at all their court looked very good already...if any changes were needed, they should’ve been subtle ones this is looking like BK’s version of going from to
I'll have to wait for final judgement to see it on TV, but at first glance, not a fan of the Brooklyn Nets' new "grey court." They took their warm and inviting herringbone wood design and made it look grimy, like someone dumped soiled water on the floor. Not gonna pop on TV, imo. Their previous floor was one of my favorites. The polished, warm herringbone wood design was exquisite. Looked like a palace. Now it is more old warehouse that might need to be checked for asbestosis.
On NBA 2k I always hate these courts, I hope it doesn't become a thing where every team is going to color their courts.
Was exactly my first reaction. To each their own of course...but I was surprised there was positive moment for the floor change.
