NBA rears its true hypocritical head by kowtowing to China over Hong Kong

By Tony Mangia


The NBA is used to putting out troublesome posting brushfires set by careless players on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and just about any social media outlet these days, but who knew a single tweet by an respected team general manager would create an international firestorm that could reveal the league in its true hypocritical colors and bring its most prominent figures to the forefront — many groveling on their knees — trying to blow out the fire.

Last weekend, Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey sent, then later deleted, what may be the most truthful — and at the same time divisive — tweet in NBA history. A few words supporting the pro-democracy protestors in Hong Kong which could potentially lead to an NBA corporate breakdown in the burgeoning China market and pull the rug out on its perceived Liberal political activism .

"Fight for freedom, stand with Hong Kong," said the deleted tweet, but not before the pissed off Chinese got wind of it.

Not only did the tweet cause angry Chinese bureaucrats and authorities to threaten pulling out of all business dealings with the NBA (The Chinese-state run network has already pulled broadcasts of both Nets vs. Lakers games this week), it is showing the so-called woke NBA as the hypocritical business-first conglomerate it really is. 

The Chinese market is estimated to be about 10% of the league's total current revenue and expected to reach 20% by the year 2030. The NBA has a $1.5 billion streaming deal with the Chinese media Tencent at this moment.

The beholden to China hypocrisy starts with such usually outspoken socially-conscious NBA figureheads as the commissioner Adam Silver, and trickles down to the league's  most successful head coaches Steve Kerr and Greg Popovich.  Sure Silver and the NBA promote social justice for causes like Black Lives Matters, cancels an All-Star Game in North Carolina because of a transgender bathroom controversy and allows its fraternity to rail at President Trump's policies, but when it comes to China — their authoritarian business partners in arms  — and foreign human rights violations they are quiet as sheep.

The never at a loss for words Kerr (his own father, an international studies academic, was assassinated by Muslim terrorists in Lebanon) when it comes to mashing Trump is suddenly Sergeant "I know nothing" Shultz about the violence in Hong Kong.  And Popovich, who never met an interviewer he gave more than five words to unless it was criticizing the President sits on the fence regarding such an outrage as the Hong Kong protests.

These three can't even hold a blank-strap to Trump when it comes to playing tough with China and its sinister business dealings.  It seems all those human rights offenses that have been documented by the media for years proves that the league only cares about money.

Silver defended Morey's right to send the "regrettable" tweet and claims he won't put profits over principles.

"The NBA will not put itself in a position of regulating what players, employees and team owners say or will not say," Silver said in a statement. "We simply could not operate that way."

Chinese sponsors and sporting goods manufacturers are already bailing on the NBA, not to mention the cancellation of special events .

Kerr was even more wishy-washy. 

"A lot of us don't know what to make of it," he said after the Chinese decided not to broadcast this week's games. "It's something I'm reading about, but I'm not going to comment."

Popovich, meanwhile, passed the buck back to Silver — with some sort of pathetically misdirected analogy.

"Adam is a very progressive leader," he said. "We all remember how he handled the situation with the Clippers. It made everyone proud and was the right thing to do. A couple of years ago, I was walking down the street in New York City during the gay pride parade. I turned around and here comes a float, and Adam is standing on a float with a big sign in support of LGBTQ. And I felt great again, just like I did with the Clipper deal."

How's that for a bold political stance.

It's sort of funny that the same coaches who to use their NBA platforms to discredit Trump — who has taken the strongest stand of any president against China's corrupt and unethical business and trade practices — at any chance they get turn to milquetoast when it comes to criticizing NBA's kowtowing to the Chinese Communist Party business power play. 

The NBA's answer to all this?  Bringing in the NBA's newest owner to the into the middle as peacemaker.

Joe Tsai, a Taiwan-born, American-educated businessman who only last month had his purchase of the Brooklyn Nets approved, is hoping to resolve the business aspect of the problem, if not the political.

"When the topic of any separatist movement comes up, Chinese people feel a strong sense of shame and anger because of this history of foreign occupation," Tsai said in a Facebook post explaining why Morey's tweet upset the Chinese.

You have to wonder where Tsai's loyalty lies, considering he owns online retailer Alibaba, China's most valuable company.

On Monday, Rockets star James Harden offered an awkward apology that was basically an early Valentine's card after the news of Morey's tweet hit Japan where the Rockets were practicing for a preseason game.

"We apologize. You know we love China," Harden gushed about Morey's pro-Hong Kong tweet. "For both of us individually, we go there once or twice a year. They show us the most important love."

Expect to see a few other heavyweights in the coming days to step on the scale — willingly or not.
It'll be interesting to know how far Yao Ming and LeBron James' power really extends .

And if you thought the protestors in Hong Kong were the only ones being silenced, think again. On Tuesday night, pair of fans attending at a preseason game at the Wells Fargo Center between the Philadelphia 76ers against a Chinese team the Guangzhou Loong Lions were escorted out of the stands in the second quarter after yelling "Free Hong Kong" and holding up a couple of small protest signs that said the same.

Silver banned the word "owner" from the NBA vernacular for having racially insensitive connotations, but regarding this China conundrum, the commissioner owns it.

Here are the controversial signs. I know, earth shattering right? Obvious why the NBA would have a problem with this. Thanks to @Christie_Ileto for sending me this photo: pic.twitter.com/Y1GydtGked

— Sam Wachs (@gogowachs) October 9, 2019

Nets-Bucks game was delayed because of a pickle on court (VIDEO)

The game between the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks was briefly delayed on Monday night because of a pickle. Yes, a pickle.

Some fan tried to garnish the Barclays Center court with the half-eaten dill, but the officials were all over it — like mustard on corned beef.

I'm guessing the Bucks relished their 103-96 win.

Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov shows team weird pushup exercises (VIDEO)

Before his life as an NBA team owner, Mikhail Prokhorov was known as a pretty decent ballplayer on the court. So when the Brooklyn Nets owner showed up to the team's practice Wednesday, he didn't just stand around scratching his chin.

Instead, the Russian billionaire joined in on the workout — introducing the players to some mildly strange, new pushup drills.

This is an example of what Mikhail Prokhorov is doing right now at Nets practice:

A video posted by Tim Bontemps (@timbontemps) on Sep 30, 2015 at 9:18am PDT

Prokhorov used volleyballs, tennis balls, boards and sticks in what the New York Post's Tim Bontemps described as "martial arts exercises," demonstrating each one before letting his players give it a shot.

This is an example of what Mikhail Prokhorov is doing right now at Nets practice:

A video posted by Tim Bontemps (@timbontemps) on Sep 30, 2015 at 9:18am PDT

Now let's see Putin give it a shot — if he isn't too busy.

Nets rookie Rondae Hollis-Jefferson takes in two roommates to help pay New York-area rent

Brooklyn Nets rookie Rondae Hollis-Jefferson discovered what a lot of new college transplants find out when they first come to the New York-metro area — it costs a lot to live here.

Even with a first year salary of $1.33 million, the NBA forward called rent rates in and around the city “ridiculous” and told the Wall Street Journal that he had to take on two roommates to avoid blowing his paycheck on a place to stay.

“You can live in a nice, three-bedroom condo with all that in Dallas for like two thousand bucks,” the former University of Arizona player told the paper. “Three bedroom, three-bathroom in New York, you’re paying eight grand. It’s ridiculous.”

Hollis-Jefferson currently lives in Northern New Jersey with his brother, Rahlir — who plays in the D-League and Europe — and a friend. He told the Journal that he’s thinking of moving to Brooklyn when the Nets move their practice facility there.

“People know they can talk to me about anything,” he said. “But when it comes to money, I’m like, ‘I don’t have it.’ That’s my go-to line.”

To some extent, that is true. His first paycheck, while larger than any he had ever received, still fell short of expectations.

“When I saw the check, I saw half of the money was gone,” Hollis-Jefferson said, referring to the taxes and other dues extracted from his paycheck. “And being in New York, more than half was gone. I was like, ‘Who do I call here? What’s going on?’ ”

Guess we'll be seeing the NBA rook on a lot of NJ Transit buses and subway trains until the next move.

Nets drawing interest from China, Qatar and Hollywood: Report

It looks like Mikhail Prokhorov's five-year window for a Brooklyn Nets championship is about to close without a title, even though the Russian billionaire will still come out a big winner himself — at least financially.

The Nets are for sale and there is no shortage of suitors showing interest as the free-spending Prokhorov gets ready for his own big payday.

Via the New York Post:

Chinese conglomerate Fosun and the Qatari government’s investment fund have signaled an interest in buying the pro basketball team from majority owner and Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov.

Interest is also coming from music mogul David Geffen, who considered a bid for the LA Clippers last year before the NBA team was sold for a record $2 billion to former Microsoft chieftain Steve Ballmer.

Even former Time Warner boss Dick Parsons, who was interim chief executive of the Clippers when the NBA forced then-owner Donald Sterling to sell the team, has eyed the Nets, sources said.

While Parsons has a long business resumé and the likely blessing of NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, he doesn’t have the cash and would need to line up investors, they added.

At least two wealthy US families have also expressed an interest in the Nets.

Prokhorov, the first foreign owner of an NBA team, holds 80 percent of the club and 45 percent of the Barclays Center, its 2 1/2-year-old arena which next season will house hockey’s New York Islanders. Only the Nets franchise is reportedly for sale.

The NBA hasn’t given Prokhorov, who has controlling ownership of the Nets, clarity on whether he can sell his stake in the team separately from his stake in the Barclays Arena, where the Nets play, said one banker close to the sale process.

The league requires an owner to sell the same ratio of team and arena ownership as he originally bought, although it can waive that rule.

The NBA told Prokhorov he had to sell both. But the banker told The Post the league hasn’t made a decision.

“The NBA never told the Nets to sell them together,” the banker said, adding the league has promised Prokhorov a decision soon.

Prokhorov does not want to sell them as a package because fewer buyers can afford both. The Barclays Center alone would be $1.2 billion on top of the team’s $2 billion asking price.

Meanwhile, Forest City Enterprises, which owns the remaining 20 percent of the team, is also shopping its majority 55 percent stake in the Barclays Center.

It's hard to put a price tag on the team, which valuations expert Peter Schwartz thinks it is worth about $1.3 billion. The arena is worth even more, said Schwartz, a managing director at Boston-based Christie & Associates, adding that the commodity tycoon’s combined stake is worth about $2 billion.

Because of the Nets home in the No. 1 U.S. media market, and the infrequency with which marquee sports franchises become available, the Nets could even get more than the record $2 billion former Microsoft Corp. Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer paid for the Los Angeles Clippers in a highly-publicized auction sparked by racist comments made by former owner Donald Sterling.

The Nets and Forest City declined to comment. The NBA and AEG did not return calls to The Post.

DeMarcus Cousins dunks all over Mason Plumlee (VIDEO)

Think DeMarcus Cousins still holds a grudge against Mason Plumlee for almost nudging him from a spot on Team USA last summer — even though both players made the team?

Maybe the Kings center's authoritative dunk on his Nets counterpart will convince you.

It looks like Boogie is still in the holiday spirit and brought a little Plumlee pudding to Brooklyn.

Cousins won that battle but the Nets won the war, 107-99.

Nets pay tribute to deceased 'Superfan' with custom warmup suits (VIDEO)

The Brooklyn Nets organization honored superfan Jeffrey Gamblero, who died on Sunday night, with a nice tribute before Tuesday night's game against the Miami Heat.

All of the Nets players and staff wore customized warmups to honor the colorful Gamblero — real name Jeffrey Vanchiro — the 38-year-old former poker star who tragically died after tumbling from a two-story Brooklyn building.

The shirts featured the No. 44 in neon colors as a nod to Gamberlo's customized jersey and bright shirts he would wear underneath at almost all Nets home games.

The Nets also tweeted a photo of the players and fans at Barclays Center when they honored Gamblero with a moment of silence.

A moment of silence tonight. #WeAreBrooklyn pic.twitter.com/xdtbEeapmr
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) December 17, 2014

Gamblero went down in Nets fan history for infamously being carried out of Madison Square Garden by security on Dec. 2 — after Knicks fans complained that he was being too rambunctious in the stands.

The video (below) of Gamblero being escorted out, holding his prosthetic leg, will  probably be his legacy. No pun intended.

Brandon Knight botches easy, game-winning layup (VIDEO)

Milwaukee Bucks guard Brandon Knight went from hero to zero faster than Jason Kidd as a Nets coach against Brooklyn Wednesday night at the Barclays Center.

With the game tied in the final seconds of the first overtime, Knight intercepted a pass by the Nets' Joe Johnson. Knight was able to get a look at a wide-open layup, but he put a little bit too much on the ball and missed the bunny.

And the reaction from the Bucks' bench is priceless:

So the game went to double overtime tied at 105-all.

Luckily, the Bucks guard redeemed himself with a clutch shot in the second OT and the Bucks pulled out an exciting 122-118 victory in the third overtime. 

Jason Kidd returns to chorus of boos in Brooklyn (VIDEO)

In Jason Kidd’s first game back in Brooklyn since leaving the Nets in June, fans welcomed him back with a chorus of boos Wednesday night at Barclays Center.

Kidd. who left this past summer to be the head coach for the Milwaukee Bucks, was booed and taunted as a traitor in the arena where his retired jersey hangs in the rafters.

It wasn't exactly a Mr. Kotter moment.

But it seemed like neither team wanted Kidd's return to end as the Bucks outlasted the Nets, 122-118, in three entertaining overtimes.

"I have bad hearing anyways. So I thought whatever the greeting was, it's about the players," Kidd said after the game. "People don't pay to come see the coach; they come to see the guys play."

Welcome back, welcome back, welcome baaack.

Carmelo Anthony's silver top hat creates Internet stir (PHOTOS)

The New York Knicks got blown out by the Brooklyn Nets, 110-99, Friday night at the Barclays Center. But after the game, it was hard to tell what was the bigger story: the lopsided loss to their crosstown rivals or Carmelo Anthony's silver and blue top hat.

One thing was for sure, it didn't take long for the Internet to light up with their own opinions and memes concerning Melo's fashion sense:

Player Haters Ball #Melo pic.twitter.com/cXi3sY9aYl
— ERV (@ervcas) November 8, 2014

Slide into your telegraph like pic.twitter.com/MjgnZ6lOG3
— netw3rk (@netw3rk) November 8, 2014

pic.twitter.com/6WZMIGjTGH
— Ryan Nanni (@celebrityhottub) November 8, 2014

pic.twitter.com/qgtQPFtDHh
— Tyler Pleiss (@Tyler_Pleiss) November 8, 2014

Next time Melo, at least consult with Walt Frazier before donning the pimp headwear — or stick to sweatbands.

Deron Williams says he doesn’t feel ‘like a New Yorker': Report

Deron Williams knows he has sometimes looked out of place as a Brooklyn Net on the court but, also admits to having a hard time making the adjustment from being raised in The Big D to living in The Big Apple as well.

The Nets point guard, who was raised in Dallas, explained the difficulties of living in New York City with four kids in a recent interview with Resident Magazine — specifically the issues with raising children while admitting: "I don’t really feel like a New Yorker."

Williams — who is the only Net to own a home inside the five boroughs — turned down an offer from his hometown team, the Dallas Mavericks, two years ago to sign a five-year, $98 million contract with the Nets.

Asked to clarify his struggles with city life, Williams said it all comes down to his family.

"I grew up in an apartment in Texas where you could send your kids outside like, 'Yeah, go play in the sun.' Here it’s more challenging" he said about living in a Manhattan loft.

"The process of getting them into school is a nightmare. Even private schools where you pay are an ordeal. In Utah, you just send your kids to the first public school in the area because they’re all great."

Like most New Yorkers, Williams — who still keeps a home in Utah — said he just needs to get away for a couple of months to recharge.

"I love New York but I also love my time in Utah, he said.

Living in NYC is never easy, but the NBA star has at least learned to embrace one important part of city living.

"Taking the subway . . . which, by the way, I love to take," Williams said. "Yes, of course I have a chauffeured car, but the subway is way faster."

Spoken like a real New Yorker — a rich New Yorker.

Kirilenko's wife takes Twitter shot at Kidd for benching husband (PHOTO)

The Nets’ 94-87 victory over the Raptors in Game 1 of their best-of-seven first round series had a lot of Brooklyn fans tweeting their joy at the win — all except one. Kind of.

The win was surprising considering the fact that super sub and mid-game spark-plug Andrei Kirilenko didn't play a single minute for Brooklyn.

And it appears his wife, Russian pop singer Masha Lopatova — who gives her husband a free pass once a year — wasn't going to let Jason Kidd have any of the sort.

On her Instagram account after the game, Lopatova tweeted out a picture of her husband sitting on the bench with the comment, “…And you are Kidding like Jason…” which appeared to be a reference to Nelly’s song, “Hot in Herre” which includes the line, “I’m just kiddin’ like Jason.”

As fans and others began to comment on the photo, Lopatova later wrote, “I don’t want to say anything bad, but just think about 350 million Russian fans back in Russia cheering for the one Russian player in the playoffs (not to mention Russian community and Russian ownership) that hurts!!!”

When a fan later said, “You guys know they won today, right?” she responded, “W – is all that matters!”

Kirilenko didn’t speak to reporters after the game, but Kidd downplayed his absence from the rotation afterward.

“Ten other guys played,” Kidd said. “I can’t play ’em all. He’s healthy.”

NY Post responds to Raptors GM and Toronto Sun with one spectacular headline (PHOTO)

The Toronto Raptors took shots at the Brooklyn Nets from all different angles before Saturday's Game 1 playoff matchup at the Air Canada Centre.

You may recall the Toronto Sun's cute headline calling the Nets team "dinosaurs" before the Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri amped up the Toronto faithful by saying "F**k Brooklyn" at a pre-game rally outside the venue.

Well the New York Post fired back — as only the NYC tabloid could — and knocked off two bird-brained remarks with one spectacular back page headline after the Nets beat the Raptors 94-87.

Sunday morning's headline was short and sweet — but not exactly like they teach you in journalism school:

"F#@K YEAH."

Ujiri apologized for his profane outburst. Don't expect any such thing from the Post.

Raptors GM apologizes for ‘F—k Brooklyn’ rant (VIDEO)

The general manager of the Toronto Raptors had a couple of choice words for the Brooklyn Nets before Game 1 of their first-round NBA playoff series and they weren't the friendly Hello Brooklyn New York fans have become accustomed to.

Speaking to several thousand fans in Maple Leaf Square outside of Air Canada Centre before the opening game Saturday, Toronto general manager Masai Ujiri ended his speech with “F— Brooklyn!” before handing the microphone off and exiting the stage to raucous cheers.

(WARNING: Video below contains profanity)

Ujiri then met with the media at halftime of the Nets’ 94-87 win, where he attempted to clear the air.

“Guys, I apologize,” Ujiri said. “I used [the] wrong choice of words out there. This thing is not really about me. It’s about the players, and the playoffs. I’m just trying to get the crowd up there [riled up]. It was a wrong choice of words. I apologize to kids out there, and to the Brooklyn guys. Nothing against them, I’m just trying to get our fans going.”

Nevertheless, Ujiri said he wasn’t answering any questions and tried to temper his foul mouthed enthusiasm.

“You know how I feel,” he said. “I don’t like them, but I apologize.”

It was a fitting way to kick off what should be a very competitive and entertaining playoff series between the two Atlantic Division rivals. The two teams engaged in four close games during the regular season, with each side winning two.

Deron Williams on Nets in playoffs: 'It's part of the takeover'

You wouldn't know it by Tuesday night's game at Barclays Center, but the Brooklyn Nets essentially have New York City to themselves — in an NBA sense.

While the Nets will never win a head-to-head popularity contest with the Yankees, the boys from Brooklyn have arguably converted a few Knicks fans and are poised to knock that other Madison Square Garden team — the playoff-bound Rangers  — off the city tabloids' back pages as well.

Thanks to making the playoffs for a second straight year — something the Knicks weren't able to do — the Nets have top billing as the lone NYC team in the NBA playoffs.

And that accomplishment across the East River didn't go unnoticed by one Nets veteran.

"I think it will be good for us," Deron Williams said before the Nets' 109-98 loss to the Knicks Tuesday night. "I think it's good for our brand, good for Brooklyn basketball. You know, it's a part of the takeover."

While the Melo-less Knicks had them looking more like a bunch of lightweights last night, the Nets have the satisfaction of knowing their crosstown rivals will be punching their sofa pillows while watching the playoffs from home.

And, as the happy Nets coach Jason Kidd said, "No one got hurt."

A win over the Knicks would've  knocked the Nets into the fifth seed, but they could drop to sixth if they also lose tonight's season finale in Cleveland and the Wizards beat the Bobcats.

And the Nets aren't exactly streaking at the moment. They have lost three of their last four games, both to non-playoff teams.

Even so, the Nets 34-16 overall record this calendar year is the second-best of any East team and sixth-best in the league.

"You look forward to it now," Paul Pierce said of the postseason. "Definitely, it's that time of the year. You get the chills. It's sort of the time you look outside, the weather is getting warm. The playoffs are here. It's an exciting time of the year. Everybody loves being in the playoffs."

Ask the Knicks.

Jay Z wears medallion of group who believe whites are 'wicked and weak': Report

Jay-Z caused a little stir at Barclays Center last week when he wore a shiny medallion the size of a CD symbolizing the Five Percent Nation. 

The rap star and founder of the Roc Nation sports agency was sitting court-side at a Nets game on Tuesday with wife Beyonce when he was snapped wearing the controversial symbol of the group which embraces radical positions regarding religion and race, according to a description by NPR.

One of the core tenants of the Five Percent Nation — an off-shoot of the Nation of Islam — is that white people are "wicked and inferior" to black men.

When asked by a reporter whether the medallion is meaningful to him, Jay-Z shrugged and said, "A little bit," reported The New York Post.

This isn't the first time that the rapper has been connected to the Five-Percenters and Carmelo Anthony has been spotted wearing the gaudy bling himself.

Jay Z was photographed wearing another similar medallion while giving radio interviews for his album Magna Carta Holy Grail last summer. 

And in "Heaven" a track on that album, Jay-Z references the Five Percent Nation's acronym for Allah by rapping "Arm leg leg arm head."

"Jay Z is not an active member — no one has vouched for him" said Saladin Allah, a representative of an upstate New York region. "It was always understood that you don’t wear the ­regalia if you don’t totally subscribe to the life."

So what exactly do Five Percenters believe?

“The rationale is that the black man is God and created the universe, and is physically stronger and intellectually stronger and more righteous naturally,” says Michael Muhammad Knight, an author of two books on the radical group — who converted to Islam as a teen and is Caucasian.

“Whiteness is weak and wicked and inferior — basically just an errant child who needs to be corrected.”

The group was founded in 1964 in Harlem by Clarence Smith, who later changed his name to Allah, a former student of Malcolm X who disagreed with the Nation of Islam over the nature of God.

Smith rejected the notion of a supernatural deity and instead believed that all black men had God in them and that black women were “earths” who took on a complementary yet subordinate role to their gods.

The idea is empowering, Knight says.

“Anytime someone is saying you have to accept your conditions of oppression and slavery and pray to an unseen god — that kind of god is just being used to keep people down and to keep people from looking to themselves as a solution to their problems,” he notes. “If there is a problem, no one will fix it for you, except yourself.”

While Five-Percenters don't refer to themselves as Muslims, they borrow their name from the Nation of Islam's idea that five per cent of humanity are "poor righteous teachers" who are trying to teach the world the truth of existence. 

Another 10 per cent know the truth of existence but keep the 85 per cent majority in ignorance by preaching belief in a "mystery god."

Knight insisted the movement is open and views the group's controversial stance as more of a statement about power rather than race.

Rockets players harassed gay worker at Barclays Center, says lawsuit

A gay catering service worker claims he was taunted with homophobic slurs by Houston Rockets basketball players while setting up a buffet in their locker room at Barclays Center last year.

Rasean Tate says in a federal discrimination lawsuit that his back was turned when the insults were directed his way, reports The New York Post.

But he heard them.

The 28-year-old Tate claims that he was setting up the buffet in the visiting Rockets locker room before a game on Feb. 22, 2013, when he was all but chased from the area because he was gay.

“When the plaintiff’s back was turned to defendant Rockets players, he began to hear laughter and taunting voices saying ‘get this f—– out of here!’ ” according to the suit, and ” ‘He’s trying to catch a sneaky-peeky!’…

“These series of comments were repeated a number of times by defendant Rockets players and staff,” claims the suit. “Plaintiff could hear defendant Rockets players overlapping voices and laughter.”

The lawsuit claims Tate was phased out of locker room duty and demoted by Levy Restaurants (the company that handles catering at Barclays center) after he complained and he was given fewer hours to work because of it.

“It was loud and gregarious and there were overlapping voices,” Tate’s lawyer Marjorie Masidor told The Post.

A representative of the Nets allegedly witnessed the incident and told Tate to leave the locker room and that he would “take care of it,” according to the suit.

“I think there’s a bit of irony that this occurred in the same place where a person’s (Jason Collins) sexual identity is accepted and welcomed with openness, while in the same place a visiting team chose to degrade Rasean and set us back,” Masidor said.

Among the players on the Rockets roster for the game were James Harden, Carlos Delfino and Jeremy Lin. The lawyer would not say whether Tate could identify anyone who made the comments.

The Rockets organization and Levy were named in the suit. No Rockets players, Barclays Center or the Nets were named in the legal action.

‪John Wall steals and seals the win against the Nets (VIDEO)‬

The Wizards have been a thorn in the Nets' side all season and, on Saturday, this play from John Wall was more of a nail — as in final nail in the coffin of Washington's 101-94 win.

The Wiz led by five with just over 30 seconds remaining, thanks to a huge game off the bench from Drew Gooden, who scored 11 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter — when they finished a 14-3 run to end the game.

On this play, Joe Johnson misses the jumper, and Wall comes up with the loose ball, splits two defenders near midcourt and finishes with the slam that put the exclamation point on the Washington victory.

As the final seconds ticked off on a win that completed a season sweep of Brooklyn and moved the Wizards into sole possession of fifth place in the Eastern Conference, Wall held the ball screaming, “This is my city!”

Jason Collins makes Barclays Center debut after fans chant his name (VIDEO)

Impatient Brooklyn Nets fans tired of waiting for the chance to witness another historical milestone — in the same borough that debuted Jackie Robinson 67 years ago — began chanting "Jason Collins! Jason Collins!" in hope of seeing the first publicly gay man to participate in a major professional American team sport debut on his home court.

After it appeared Collins might not play for the first time in his five games as a Net on Monday night, even with many family and friends looking on at Barclays Center — as well as notables such as former NBA commissioner David Stern — coach Jason Kidd finally granted their wishes.

With the Nets in control, 92-75, and headed to a victory over the Bulls, Collins entered the game with 2:41 left and received a quick standing ovation before play resumed. 

"It was cool,'' he said after finishing with one rebound, one steal, one foul and one missed shot. "It was a lot of fun to go into a game. The most important thing is we got the win.''

Kidd said he inserted his old teammate he calls "Twin'' not because of the fans' chants but because the "game was out of hand'' and he wanted to get his regulars some rest.

"I don't pay attention to what people say; I'm sorry,'' he said. "Hopefully they were happy.''

From the sound of it, they were.

Before the game, when Collins was asked if his Barclays appearance would invoke Robinson, the Brooklyn Dodger who broke down baseball's  color barrier, he largely dismissed the comparison.

"What Jackie Robinson did for the sport of baseball, and for our society, was tremendous,'' the Nets backup center said. "I'm just trying to be Jason Collins.''

The Nets will sign Collins to a second 10-day contract Wednesday.

Deron Williams: 'Not bringing my gun to New York City'

Deron Williams may be a gun owner but the Brooklyn Nets point guard claims he doesn't —and won't — keep a firearm in his posh Manhattan home.

“I got my license to carry in like 26 states, but I’m not bringing my gun to New York City,” Williams said before the Nets practiced on Tuesday and before they traveled up the coast for Wednesday night’s game with the Trail Blazers. “I know better than that.”

Felton, the Knicks’ starting point guard, was charged Tuesday with criminal possession of a weapon in the second, third and fourth-degrees.

Williams, who is originally from Dallas and has another home in Salt Lake City — places where gun laws are more lax — is well aware that New York has among the strictest state laws on gun control in the country.

“It’s a tough situation,” Williams said. “I wish the best for Ray. I know Ray well. That’s tough for him.”

Williams and Felton have a lengthy history between themselves too — going back to being high-school point guards in the same recruiting class in 2002.

Apparently D-Will has better common sense.