Mikhail Prokhorov: 'I don't go halfway in anything'
Brooklyn Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov speaks to reporters at halftime of a game against the Charlotte Bobcats on Dec. 28, 2012. Credit: Jim McIsaac
When told the Nets could swipe Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce from Boston, Mikhail Prokhorov's initial reaction was rather simplistic.
"Hell, yes,'' the Nets' billionaire owner said in an interview with the YES Network that was broadcast at halftime of Friday night's home opener against the Heat.
"What I'm doing here, I don't go halfway in anything. I'll go all the way.''
That's why Prokhorov insisted he wasn't even thinking about the luxury-tax bill the Nets would be hit with once they pulled the trigger. The Nets are set to pay roughly $70 million in luxury taxes on top of their $100-million payroll.
Prokhorov also said he can "sleep safely at night'' since the NBA cleared the Nets of any shady business, something some owners around the league charged when Brooklyn landed Andrei Kirilenko on the cheap off the free-agent market. He also is proud of the Nets' decision to hire Jason Kidd as their coach, a move that initially was questioned by many.
"I really felt a lightbulb went off that said, 'What an amazing idea,' '' Prokhorov said, "because I kept on thinking about someone which could be much more different than the kind of traditional coach . . .
"We need somebody very thoughtful with a great desire to win because to win in the NBA, there are players that will have maybe nine broke fingers out of 10 and they will still be fighting. So Jason Kidd is one of those guys.''
Kirilenko returnsAfter missing the final five preseason games and the season opener with back spasms, Andrei Kirilenko scored eight points in 11:46. "It felt great, finally," he said. "I knew I was going to play limited minutes, but in those minutes, I tried to be active and kind of get the movement back."
Kirilenko drove for a two-handed dunk in the fourth quarter. That's when he knew he was really good to go. "I was a little bit scared on the dunk," he said. "I'm like, 'I'm feeling good. OK. Thank you.' "
