Brooklyn Nets young guards Egor Démin and Mikel Brown Jr. are urging fans to set aside a “tank mentality” and fully support the team as they prepare for the upcoming preseason, which begins Tuesday against the Charlotte Hornets.

After enduring two seasons focused on rebuilding — during which the Nets lost nearly 120 games to secure high draft picks — fans have pinned their hopes on the 20-year-olds as the cornerstone of their franchise moving forward. Démin, a homegrown player and one of the two key lottery selections acquired through the team’s tanking strategy, emphasized the importance of consistent fan support during a Sunday event at Nets Fest.

“We’re going to try to win every single day, whether it’s a game or practice or whatever it is,” Démin said. “All we need from them is support and being there for us and not against us.”

The shift away from a losing culture has been challenging for both players and fans. Démin noted that his early career wins were sometimes met with skepticism or even disappointment among a fanbase accustomed to hoping for draft lottery outcomes rather than victories. In contrast, Brown, who was selected No. 6 overall after the most recent tanking season and is just returning from an ankle injury, expressed optimism about the season ahead.

“My message is just, 1) show out. Come to the game, pack it out, because we need all the help that we can get, all the love that we can get for one,” Brown said. “And then 2) I’m gonna keep saying it, I feel like we’re gonna shock the world. I really do feel like we’re going to shock the world with this team and this group of guys that we got.”

The Barclays Center has often lacked a strong home-court advantage in recent years, with fans sometimes offering a neutral or subdued atmosphere even against visiting contenders such as the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, or New York Knicks. Démin and Brown aim to help change that dynamic, building stronger connections with the Brooklyn fanbase.

At Nets Fest, both players were among the most sought-after figures by young fans. Démin recalled one of the most electric moments of the previous season when he hit a go-ahead three-pointer with 3.6 seconds remaining in overtime against Orlando on January 7, a play that sparked one of the loudest cheers in recent memory at Barclays Center.

“That’s the honor to be a part of that,” Démin said. “Being able to experience that, and be a part of their community that really cheers and really roots for us, that’s very special for me. That’s one of my biggest motivations is to keep bringing people joy — for all of us, me and the whole team in general. Those moments are definitely very, very, very special.”

Brown, who did not experience the uneasy fan reactions Démin described as a rookie, acknowledged the weight and privilege of representing Brooklyn. Although his debut remains uncertain following his recent clearance for contact after an ankle injury, he is eager to begin the season.

“I don’t look at this as pressure. I just feel like people that love you for who you are. The burden of playing for this city, I wouldn’t even call it pressure; it’s a privilege,” Brown said. “It’s a privilege to be able to represent the city and represent all those fans out there.”

As the Nets prepare for their preseason opener and then the regular season beginning October 21 at home against the Hornets, both players are focused on recovery and readiness. Brown indicated he is progressing well and is working closely with the team’s performance staff to return at full strength.

“I’m getting back on the court, and I’m moving way better. I’m starting to get to full speed now, starting to get a little bit of contact in as of right now in my workouts and stuff like that,” Brown said. “But as of now, I’m just leaning on my performance staff to put me in the best situation possible.”