“We can’t just take for granted that Brooklyn is going to support us.”

That’s a quote from Nets chief executive Brett Yormark, who’s featured in a New York Times article about how the team is reopening the basketball gymnasium at the Navy Yard Clubhouse of the Madison Square Boys and Girls Club. The new court is modeled after the Nets’ own practice court, and will give local youths a place to congregate after school and during the summer. His words, in full:

“We can’t just take for granted that Brooklyn is going to support us just because we wear Brooklyn every night. We’ve got to do things that are significant, that have an impact on the lives of the people that make up Brooklyn.”

And also:

“I think to the extent that we can reinforce who we are and what we do day in and day out is very important. We want every kid growing up in Brooklyn thinking about the Brooklyn Nets and being proud of the team.”

That echoes something I touched on in my introductory essay: thinking about how sports can function as part of the community, aside from giving residents something to cheer for. MarShon Brooks will help introduce the new court on Friday.