New Jersey Governor pushes for Nets’ return across the Hudson

New Jersey governor Mikie Sherrill has reignited discussion about a potential return of the Brooklyn Nets to the state they called home from 1977 to 2012. Speaking during a public event marking her first hundred days in office, Sherrill admitted she frequently raises the topic and would “love the idea,” noting she is pushing hard for it even if progress has been limited so far. She also hinted at ongoing efforts to expand sports activity at Newark’s Prudential Center, suggesting that “some people are working to bring different sports to the Rock,” though she declined to provide specifics.

Despite her enthusiasm, a franchise source dismissed any suggestion of concrete contact, stressing that the Nets are “perfectly happy in Brooklyn.” Since relocating in 2012, the team has undergone a full rebrand and strengthened its identity under owner Joe Tsai, who purchased the franchise and Barclays Center in 2019 and is currently investing $140 million in arena renovations.