Carter’s jersey retirement, which some felt was long overdue, was teased on Brooklyn’s social media accounts Tuesday in the form of a 14-second audio clip from his game-winning 3-pointer against the Toronto Raptors on Jan. 8, 2006. He finished that game with 42 points. He once said that shot against the Raptors was one of the greatest moments of his career.

Carter, a former fifth overall pick out of North Carolina in 1998, wound up playing an NBA-record 22 seasons with Toronto, New Jersey, Orlando, Phoenix, Dallas, Memphis, Sacramento and Atlanta. He was voted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2024 in April.

“It’s pretty dope, man, because it’s forever up there,” Carter said in a short video shared on the Nets’ social media accounts on Wednesday. It’s Nets [No.] 15, Carter. Can’t use it again. Doesn’t get any better than that.”

Carter’s jersey will be hung in the rafters next to Jason Kidd’s, another Hall of Famer who he shared a backcourt with for four seasons in New Jersey. Kidd’s No. 5 jersey was retired at Barclays Center on Oct. 17, 2013.

“I think about coming into the league, trying to be the best player you can be,” Carter said. “And then you go through a trade, and you get a new life. Especially playing with Jason Kidd, who is a Hall of Famer, legend, up in the stands as well.

“And I heard a story from Gary Sussman talking about how J Kidd, after I hit that shot in Toronto, he felt that I was a guy he can trust. And he would jump in the foxhole against anybody at any time. So, for me to get that opportunity again to be a part of the franchise, to be a go-to guy was a breath of fresh air. And it was fun to play with that guy because he made the game easy for me as well.”

Carter, 47, currently serves as a basketball analyst for YES Network. Known by the nickname “Vinsanity” because of his generational athleticism, he averaged 23.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game during his stint with the Nets from 2004-09 while shooting 44.7% from the field and 37% from 3-point range.

The 6-6 guard finished his career as an eight-time All-Star and was named to an All-NBA team twice. He won NBA Rookie of the Year in 1999 and retired with 25,728 career points, which ranks 21st all-time in NBA history.

“Congratulations on having your number retired next to my No. 5,” said Kidd, who currently serves as head coach of the Mavericks. “We got 5 and 15. You made the game so easy, maybe too easy. But again, congratulations. You’ve had an incredible career. I think you played for 40 years, somewhere around there. Well deserved, but understanding you were one of my best teammates in New Jersey and, again, made the game easy. You made me look good, so thank you, congratulations.”

The Atlanta Hawks, a team that qualified for the league’s Play-In Tournament with a 36-46 record in the Eastern Conference this season, emerged as the biggest winners and will be on the clock first at Barclays Center on June 26. They had just a three percent chance of securing the No. 1 pick entering Sunday afternoon.

The Washington Wizards (15-67) will pick second, followed by the Houston Rockets (41-41), and that is where the latest outpour of frustration in Brooklyn emanates from.

The Nets went 32-50 this season, missed the playoffs and just hired a first-year head coach in Jordi Fernandez. Houston’s No. 3 pick was originally theirs. However, general manager Sean Marks relinquished control of the pick in the James Harden deal in 2021, the same year where he sent Sekou Doumbouya and an unprotected 2024 second-round pick to the Rockets, leaving the Nets without any picks this year.

Back then, Marks probably figured those 2024 picks would not have much value. After all, a core trio of Harden, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving was supposed to compete for championships indefinitely. It was an ideal situation on paper. They were supposed to stay together. But fans are well aware of why that situation fell apart and hindsight is always 20/20.

Nets fans knew a major payment for the Harden deal was imminent but after an awful 2023-24 campaign that saw the team finish with the ninth-worst record in the NBA, not having the draft capital to replenish the roster with younger, cheaper talent is a frustrating reality. It stings even more considering the first-round pick Houston controls had just a 20.3% chance to move into the top-three.

What worsens matters is that Brooklyn has already seen where this road could lead. The Boston Celtics and the Portland Trail Blazers both drafted elite talent in Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Damian Lillard with draft capital that the Nets traded away. This year’s draft projects to be one of the weakest in recent memory, but a few diamonds will surely emerge from the rough, and Brooklyn finds itself completely out of the mix for now.

Marks reportedly had an opportunity to rectify the situation. According to Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle, the Nets rejected a deal proposed by the Rockets in January that would have swapped the remaining picks given to Houston in the Harden deal for the Phoenix Suns picks owned by the Nets through the Durant deal.

Along with the Nets’ first and second-round picks this year, Houston also controls Brooklyn’s first-round pick in 2026 and has the right to swap picks in 2025 and 2027. Meanwhile, Brooklyn owns Phoenix’s unprotected first-round picks in 2025, 2027 and 2029 and has the right to swap picks in 2028.

There were also reports that Marks rejected an offer from Houston around the February trade deadline that would have gotten back this year’s pick, others from the Harden deal and a blossoming star in Jalen Green in exchange for Mikal Bridges. It was reported at the time that the Nets viewed Bridges as an untouchable asset that they wanted to build with.

While Sunday’s draft lottery revelation was certainly uncomfortable for Nets fans, it is not all doom and gloom. Again, this year’s draft is supposed to be weak. There is no consensus No. 1 prospect as of today and it would not be too surprising if multiple teams want to move out of their current draft position as the draft process matures. If Brooklyn does become infatuated with a certain prospect, there is likely a deal that could be pursued to trade into the draft. Marks, speaking to reporters after Fernandez’s introductory news conference last month, said fans should not rule out the idea of Brooklyn acquiring a first-round pick, or any pick, in June.

Ironically, one team that may be looking to make a deal on draft day is none other than the Rockets. Houston appears to be in win-now mode and some NBA insiders believe it could be looking to trade the No. 3 pick for a veteran player that could aid in its ascension.

With that said, perhaps the Nets and Rockets revisit negotiations regarding a deal centered around Bridges come June. Crazier things have happened. The timing may be better for both teams at this point.

Following the Indiana Pacers’ 130-121 loss to the Knicks in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, the veteran head coach promised reporters he would file a complaint to the NBA regarding the officiating so far in the series, and that is exactly what they did.

The Pacers have submitted 78 instances of incorrect calls, or non-calls, to the league office that they felt put them at a disadvantage in Games 1 and 2, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. The clips will also be shared with the Knicks, per league protocol.

Carlisle received a technical foul during a timeout with 41.1 seconds left on Wednesday, then drew his second with 33.2 seconds left, resulting in his ejection. While he cited multiple examples of perceived unfair officiating after the game, his frustration began to boil over after a double-dribble call against Isaiah Hartenstein with 1:19 left was overturned.

“Small market teams deserve an equal shot,” Carlisle said. “They deserve a fair shot, no matter where they’re playing.”

Carlisle said the Pacers’ review of Game 1 found 29 calls they believed were made incorrectly. He decided not to submit them to the league because he thought the team would receive more of a fair whistle in Game 2.

The Knicks, who trailed by double figures at halftime with Jalen Brunson sidelined, shot 67% in the third quarter of Game 2 and 65% in the second half once Brunson returned to the court.

Forward OG Anunoby came out aggressive on offense — arguably more aggressive than he had been to start a game all season — scoring 10 of the Knicks’ first 18 points. Madison Square Garden was in true playoff form after Jalen Brunson knocked down a pull-up 3-pointer, right in Tyrese Haliburton’s grill, to put the Knicks up 24-13 with 4:04 left in the first quarter.

But those positive vibes soon devolved into a state of profound concern. Oh, how quickly things went south for the No. 2 team in the Eastern Conference when Brunson — who entered the night with four-straight 40-point games in these playoffs — left the court with 3:32 left in the first quarter.

The Knicks’ 130-121 defeat of Indiana in Game 2 was an emotional rollercoaster for everyone involved. Brunson’s unsettling injury was just the start.

“I don’t know [how it happened],” Brunson said. “Just felt a little discomfort and went from there.”

Many inside the building feared the All-Star guard would not return. Rick Brunson, Jalen’s father and a Knicks assistant, was not on the bench and that clearly was not a great sign. And the Knicks were already paper-thin, playing without Julius Randle, Bojan Bogdanovic and Mitchell Robinson Wednesday night.

Brunson was hip-checked by Indiana’s Andrew Nembhard early in the first quarter, and from that point on, he was seen grabbing at his groin area as he made his way up and down the court. “He hit me in a place that was not comfortable,” Brunson said.

Some assumed that collision is what led to his early exit, but it proved to be something else entirely. Late in the second quarter, the Knicks announced that Brunson had a sore right foot and was questionable to return.

Fans were rightfully petrified. As Brunson goes, so does this Knicks team. This is a guy that has been in the same conversation as Michael Jordan in recent weeks. Indiana outscored New York 39 to 56 without Brunson on the court in the first half and went into the locker room at halftime up 10. The Pacers went 10-for-19 from deep through 24 minutes of action and had 12 second-chance points. Haliburton matched Anunoby with 22 points.

“You just weather the storm while [Jalen’s] not out there and you go into halftime and regroup,” Donte DiVincenzo said. “Whether he was going to give it a go or not in the second half, we were ready for whatever.”

However, as the halftime festivities began to wind down, there was Brunson, slowly emerging from the tunnel with his chest out and head high. “MVP” chants began to reign down from the rafters as the guard began his warmup routine, knocking down one free throw after another, showing everyone inside Madison Square Garden that he was just fine.

“I had a decision to make and I made a decision,” Brunson said. “Was just making sure I could move, seeing how I felt, and just went on from there.”

Regardless of how severe Brunson’s injury actually was, it gave shades of Willis Reed, who was battling a torn right tensor muscle during the 1970 NBA Finals but emerged from the tunnel inside Madison Square Garden just minutes before Game 7. It injected his teammates with confidence and instilled doubt into Wilt Chamberlain and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Fifty-four years later, Brunson’s return to the floor had a similar effect.

“We’re just sticking together no matter what, no matter what the situation is, no matter what’s thrown at us, no matter what’s at a disadvantage for us, we’re just going to stick together and that’s the thing we always harp on,” Brunson said.

Brunson started the third quarter, and with him on the court, the Knicks outscored Indiana 36-18 to take a 99-91 lead into the final frame. But the third quarter wound up extracting a heavy toll. Anunoby took an awkward step while driving to the rim on a fastbreak late in the period. He left the game and did not return.

At the start of the fourth quarter, the Knicks announced that Anunoby had a sore left hamstring. His 28 points scored on Wednesday were the most he had in any game this postseason and he finished one point shy of tying a season high.

“I think there’s a blueprint here that Thibs has laid out,” DiVincenzo said. “And no matter who’s on the court, everybody follows that and doesn’t go outside of themselves. So, no matter who’s in the game we know what we’re looking to get. And any game we play, as long as we defend and rebound and we have low turnovers we can win any game. And that was the mindset tonight.”

So, no Anunoby for New York down the stretch, but Brunson was not about to let Game 2 slip away. He was once again at his best when his team needed him the most, pouring in 14 points in the fourth quarter — including a floater over the outstretched arms of Indiana’s Pascal Siakam with 41.9 seconds left to put the Knicks up 126-118.

Despite missing the final minutes of the first quarter and all of the second, Brunson finished with a team-high 29 points in 32 minutes. The Knicks were plus-26 with him on the court on Wednesday. Haliburton scored a game-high 34 points for Indiana with six rebounds and nine assists.

Brunson’s latest display of mental and physical toughness gave the Knicks a 2-0 series lead over the Pacers. Two more and the team will punch its first ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals in 24 years.

“The mental toughness piece is so important,” head coach Tom Thibodeau said. “To get through things. To be at your best when your best is needed, even when you may not be feeling your best. That’s who [Jalen] is. He’s a great leader.”

Robinson, who was originally ruled out of Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals because of left ankle injury management, will be re-evaluated in six to eight weeks.

“It’s unfortunate,” Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau said of Robinson. “He’s been through this before, just go through the rehab. You feel for him. It’s a part of the game. He’ll come back stronger than ever.”

The Knicks — who have been playing without All-Star Julius Randle since late January — had already lost forward Bojan Bogdanovic during the opening round of the playoffs because of a left foot injury.

The Pacers’ bench outscored the Knicks’ reserves 46-3 in Game 1 on Monday. But playing short-handed is something New York has obviously grown accustomed to this season. As their series against Indiana continues, Thibodeau expects whoever is chosen to fill the Robinson’s minutes to step in and step up.

“We’ve gone through this all year,” Isaiah Hartenstein said. “I think that’s something that gives us confidence. We’ve gone through this a million times. So, it’s sad but I think it helps us now when we have something like this happen.”

Thibodeau told reporters ahead of Game 2 players such as Precious Achiuwa, Jericho Sims, Alec Burks and Shake Milton could see extended minutes in Robinson’s absence as the series continues.

“It really points to Achiuwa plugging into that spot,” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said. “And Achiuwa is a different kind of problem, but he’s not a lesser problem. It’s certainly a loss for them because of the size and physicality. But in some ways, Achiuwa is more difficult to deal with because he covers more ground, he’s quicker, those kinds of things. [The Knicks are] well protected for a loss like this.”

Sims, Burks and Milton did not appear in Game 1 and Achiuwa played just four minutes. However, in 24.2 minutes per game during the regular season, Achiuwa averaged 7.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists while shooting 50.1% from the field.

“When guys were injured before, [Precious] stepped up big. I think a lot of people forget when he was playing 40-plus minutes a game. I think a lot of people forget that. We have a lot of faith in everyone in the locker room, so I know he’ll step up.”

Awful Announcing released its local NBA announcer rankings last week, with the Knicks and Nets ranking No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, among 30 NBA markets.

New York, which was ranked No. 1 by Awful Announcing in 2016 and No. 2 in 2020, received 71.00% of votes for an A grade. Brooklyn, which was ranked No. 2 in 2016 and No. 1 in 2020, received 51.30% of votes for an A grade.

The New Orleans Pelicans, Chicago Bulls and Charlotte Hornets broadcast crews rounded out the top 5. The Golden State Warriors ranked dead last with 59.79% of votes for an F grade.

MSG Network’s Knicks coverage has been long led by legendary play-by-play voice Mike Breen and Hall of Famer Walt “Clyde” Frazier. Popular programs include its weekly show Inside the Knicks, SummerBall and Friday Night Knicks.

Ian Eagle, Ryan Ruocco and Noah Eagle share the play-by-play duties for YES Network’s Nets coverage, while Sarah Kustok, Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter serve as analysts. Its original NBA programming, along with regular game coverage, includes The Bridge to Brooklyn and Nets Magazine.

Sometimes it was by design. Most of the time it was out of necessity. But that was ultimately the Knicks’ offensive approach against the Philadelphia 76ers — and it worked. After a rough Game 1, the All-Star guard wound up averaging 35.5 points across six games and carried his team to a first-round series victory. But how sustainable would that strategy be in the Eastern Conference semifinals, matched up against a deep Indiana Pacers squad that can pour it on in a hurry, from all angles, for 48 minutes a night?

The Knicks entered Game 1 on Monday knowing that, at some point in this series, they would need more offensive production out of Brunson’s supporting cast. The Pacers averaged 113.0 points across six games against the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round, pouring in at least 120 points on four separate occasions. The Knicks scored more than 113 points just twice against Philadelphia.

The matchups were different and the 76ers had boasted a better defense than the Bucks this postseason. But on paper, it appeared the Knicks would struggle to keep up with the high-scoring Pacers. But we play the games for a reason. Brunson did not carry the scoring load alone in the Knicks’ Game 1 defeat of Indiana, as the team eclipsed 120 points for the first time since April 9 against the Chicago Bulls.

Brunson, continuing his torrid offensive pace, finished with 43 points on 14-for-26 shooting. And, for just the second time this postseason, the Knicks had three players score at least 20 points between Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo (25) and Josh Hart (24). The Knicks entered the night ranked 11th among playoff squads in team field goal percentage at 44.1. They shot a blistering 53.7% against the Pacers and their starters outscored Indiana’s, 118-71.

For the most part, Brunson’s supporting cast answered the call.

But depth is what makes the Pacers so dangerous and the Knicks remain mindful of that as the series continues. Indiana has gone nine, sometimes 10 deep in these playoffs. Keeping pace with the scoring of Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner was not the Knicks’ biggest issue in Game 1. It was reserves such as T.J. McConnell, Obi Toppin, Isaiah Jackson and Ben Sheppard that almost got them beat.

Indiana’s bench outscored the Knicks’ reserves, 46-3. Although Brunson, DiVincenzo and Hart combined for 92 points, the Knicks won by only four points, and the Pacers will undoubtedly continue to exploit New York’s lack of bench scoring. The Knicks got incredible secondary scoring out of their starters in Game 1, but now the pressure is on guys like Miles McBride and Mitchell Robinson to provide some offensive juice off the bench.

“We know [Brunson] is going to score his points shooting the ball 25, 30 times per game. We know he’s going to get to his shots,” Turner said. “But I think it’s more so about limiting their other role players. Someone like Josh Hart came in and had a great game tonight and really juiced them up. DiVincenzo hit some big shots at the end. So, it’s one of those things where at times you have to tip your hat to Brunson and then try to do the job with the other guys.”

This may not be a problem the Knicks can fix this postseason. Julius Randle is out, which forces Hart into the starting lineup. Bojan Bogdanovic is out for the rest of the postseason as well. Unless Tom Thibodeau finds minutes for a scorer like Alec Burks, McBride is really the only offensive-minded reserve the Knicks have left. That is a major problem for New York considering the Pacers have the best scoring bench in the league, and that this projects to be a long series where guys such as Brunson, DiVincenzo and Hart will continue to play heavy minutes. That trio played 44, 44 and 48 minutes in Game 1, respectively.

If those three continue to score like they did in Game 1, while holding the Pacers under 120 points (Indiana is 0-3 this postseason when scoring under 120 points), then it probably will not matter anyway. But is it sustainable? Will the wear and tear of the series eventually limit their offensive production?

“I think it’s maintainable,” DiVincenzo said. “Come in tomorrow, watch film, take care of your body and be ready to go the next day. This time of the year, it’s less about the wear and tear on your body and more about preparing for the next game mentality, watching film, adjusting that way, walking through plays rather than running through your stuff. So, minutes aren’t a factor right now, as long as we keep getting wins. Everybody knows the next game will be better, whether it’s guys coming off the bench, whether it’s the starting unit. So, the minutes can fluctuate throughout the series. I don’t think we’re worried about the minutes.”

Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported on Thursday that Steve Hetzel will serve as Fernandez’s lead assistant while Juwan Howard and Jay Hernandez will round out the front of the bench. The Nets have not officially announced any of these moves.

Hetzel boasts a decade of experience as an NBA assistant, including the past three years on Chauncey Billups’ staff in Portland.

Howard, who was reportedly hired by Fernandez last week, played 19 seasons in the NBA and won two championships as a player with the Miami Heat. He spent six seasons as an assistant in Miami under Erik Spoelstra before becoming the head coach at his alma mater, Michigan, where he led the Wolverines for five seasons before being dismissed in March.

Hernandez, who was hired as an assistant by former head coach Jacque Vaughn last year, will be retained by Fernandez. His focus is player development, and he reportedly has a close relationship with Cam Thomas.

It was also reported that Kevin Ollie, Will Weaver and Ronnie Burrell will not return to Brooklyn next season. Ollie served as interim coach following the All-Star break. It is unclear at this time whether assistant Corey Vinson, who has history with star forward Mikal Bridges, will be retained by Fernandez.

Fernandez is the fourth full-time head coach hired by general manager Sean Marks, following Vaughn, Kenny Atkinson and Steve Nash.

Randle averaged 24 points, 9.2 rebounds and five assists across 46 games before dislocating his shoulder. On Wednesday, Creative Artists Agency (CAA) announced on Instagram that Randle would be represented by them going forward after leaving them for WME Sports ahead of the season.

The 29-year-old’s latest injury prevented him from earning a $1.28 million bonus for 65 games played in the regular season.

While Randle has not been seen in the locker room or at many games since suffering his injury, he has still kept contact with his teammates, according to Josh Hart. Speaking to reporters in Philadelphia ahead of the Knicks’ Game 6 showdown against the 76ers, Hart said Randle’s communication has been consistent and the team misses his production — especially at a time like this.

“Yeah, he’s in contact with us,” Hart said. “I mean, he’s an All-Star. He [averaged] 24, nine and five or whatever it is. So, that playmaking, shot making, is something that we’re missing. It’s funny, when people talk about us, they somehow forget the big void we have of 24 and 9 gone. It’s not like he’s out there with us 70-80 percent. He’s not out there. So, that’s something that’s a big void that we knew was going to be hard to fill. But his playmaking, his shot making, his energy is something that we definitely miss.”

Injuries have been a major obstacle for the Knicks this season, as they recently lost Bojan Bogdanovic to a season-ending foot surgery.

The Knicks went 29-17 with Randle during the regular season and 21-15 without him. However, the absence of Randle has made life more difficult for Jalen Brunson throughout the first round of the playoffs, as Philadelphia’s defense has routinely sold out on limiting him without the threat of a true secondary scorer.

The Knicks have still had some success offensively. Brunson has averaged 34.4 points through the first five games of their first-round series. But no other Knicks player is averaging more than 17 points per game in the first-round series. Josh Hart (17.0) and OG Anunoby (14.2) rank second and third, respectively, in points per game through the first five postseason games. The Knicks have averaged 106.4 points per game as a team on a 43.7% clip while knocking down 11.4 3-pointers per game across the series.

Randle will earn $27.5 million next season, has a $29.4 million player option scheduled for 2025-26, and will be an unrestricted free agent entering 2026-27.

Mike Conley Jr. of the Minnesota Timberwolves won the award with 51 first-place votes, while Jalen Brunson of the Knicks rounded out the Top 3 with 29 first-place votes.

While Bridges ultimately finished in second place, him being named one of 12 finalists obviously speaks volumes about how his teammates, and others around the league, continue to view the forward even after a disappointing season in Brooklyn.

“You could say it was a failure,100%,” Bridges said. “It’s tough, you know? Especially seeing the teams that are in there [the playoffs] and you just know the talent we have and things like that… It’s definitely tough. Didn’t want this, but you got to learn from it. You got to be better. That’s the biggest thing I take from it.”

The 27-year-old averaged 19.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists while appearing in all 82 games for the Nets. At one point, some thought he was close to earning his first career All-Star nod.

However, as Brooklyn’s season went on and losses continued to pile up, his production took a dip, the heavy minutes he was routinely asked to play seemingly took a toll, and there were fans who questioned if he even wanted to remain a Net going forward, considering the success Brunson and his other former Villanova teammates were having over in Manhattan.

A lot of it was just smoke. Bridges’ teammates never questioned his loyalty, his abilities, or his desire to win.

“Because of how he played at the end of the last season, everybody went, ‘look at him,’ and had their questions and suspicions, but at the end of the day, I’m proud of him,” Cam Johnson said. “I’m proud of him, and I’ve seen strides in his game, I’ve seen strides in the way he sees and reads the game and his ability to play with the ball in his hand and his shot-making and his overall level for the game is increasing, ever-increasing. So, there’s no worry, there’s no doubt, there’s no — people are so quick to be like, ‘Oh, maybe he’s not who we thought he was.’ And whatever that may be, he’s only getting better. I got full faith, and everybody went through the same thing the second half of the year.”

Bridges admitted he let his emotions get the better of him at various points this season. Heading into 2024-25 with a new head coach in Jordi Fernandez, he knows he has to improve his mindset and showcase better mental toughness.

“I get really super frustrated,” Bridges said. “At least I know in my heart what it was for, you know? It’s not in no selfish way, I just want to win. I definitely have to be better. That’s another thing I’m taking [away from] this year. With the goals and when things get tough, you might get hit with an uppercut and how are we going to react to that? I think I did a good job of that, and I think it’s just personally on wanting to win so bad. So, when any little thing didn’t look right or went wrong, it ticked me off even more. I think just being better mentally.”