Jordi Fernandez delivers a heartbreaking message after defeat to Hornets

The The Brooklyn Nets enter the 2025-26 campaign with historically low expectations. In Wednesday’s season opener, they looked the part of a team that was under attack. Jordi Fernandez’s team fell 136-117 to a Charlotte Hornets a team that also projects to be one of the worst in the league.

The new-look Nets put on a putrid defensive effort in front of a sold-out crowd at the Spectrum Center, allowing the Hornets to shoot 48-of-90 (53 percent) from the field and 17-of-36 (47 percent) from three. They were outscored 18-0 in quick points during the first half and 23-5 for the game.

“When we faced adversity, we all went our separate ways. And I have to figure out a way to stay together and get better,” head coach Jordi Fernandez said. “This is the NBA. (Trouble) usually happens, and (staying together) is how you get back in games. That’s how you fight back, and we didn’t. I’m the first one to be disappointed in myself and try to figure it out.”

The Nets’ defensive effort and communication in transition was abysmal last night. The players jog back during the first half of the first game of the season.

It didn’t look like a team that wanted to be there. pic.twitter.com/arKsd8k5m1v

— Eric Slater (@erikslater_) October 23, 2025

The Nets exceeded expectations for most of last season, often outplaying more talented opponents.

The net defense is non-existent during the season-opening loss to the Hornets

However, they looked disinterested on defense in Charlotte, routinely getting beat at the point of attack, falling asleep on weakside rotations and jogging back in transition.

“We had a game plan where we had to do things a certain way, and we went 5-23 on quick points, and we didn’t defend the rim, we couldn’t defend the three-point line. So all those things that go with (knowing your personnel),” Fernandez said. “I know it’s the first game, and at some point, there’s a lot of emotion, but we’re just doing things without purpose, just running around. You run hard, but you have to know exactly what the call is, what your positioning is.”

While the Hornets ran the Nets out of the gym in transition, they were just as effective in the half court. Charlotte scored 110.8 points per 100 half-court plays, per CleaningTheGlass. Brandon Miller led the way with 25 points, while LaMelo Ball added 20 and Myles Bridges added 18.

Meanwhile, the Nets offense has been nothing to write home about. Brooklyn shot 39 of 88 (44 percent) and 15 of 40 (35 percent) from three with 25 assists and 17 turnovers.

Cam Thomas and Michael Porter Jr. struggled during their first game as the team’s leading offensive duo. Thomas scored 15 points on 2-of-9 shooting with two assists and two turnovers, while Porter Jr. added 12 points on 5-of-15 shooting from the field and 2-of-7 from three. The pair were equally disastrous defensively, both finishing with a team-worst -19.

Fernandez benched Thomas and Porter Jr. for most of the third quarter, the only frame Brooklyn won.

“This is the game of basketball. If you don’t score, it’s hard to win. If your best scorers don’t score, it’s going to be a tough night. But you still have to give yourself a chance,” Fernandez said. “I don’t care if Mike and CT have a rough night, we still have to fight and maybe double team more and hustle and make an offensive rebound and we still have to be there to try to fight for the game. It can’t be like, ‘Oh, they didn’t score, we lost.’ It doesn’t work that way.

“Always give yourself a chance, no matter what. So they’ve got to do their job. Sometimes shots are going to go in or not, but I don’t care. Just make the right shots, make the right plays and make a positive impact.”

Rookie Ben Saraf started at point guard, with a fellow rookie Egor Demin returns after a foot injury. The Israeli floor general scored eight points on 2-of-7 shooting in 20 minutes. He added seven rebounds with four assists and zero turnovers.

Meanwhile, Demin scored 14 points, five rebounds, two assists and two turnovers in 22 minutes. He knocked down four of his six field goal attempts, all of which were 3-pointers.