The Nets Ran the League's Smallest Bill and Still Paid Extra for Every Win

2026-09-27

Look, everybody's asking whether Brooklyn is ready for pressure next season. I'd settle for Brooklyn getting invited to some.

The Brooklyn Nets haven't made the playoffs since 2023, and 2025-26 ended the familiar way: 20 wins, no postseason, an early summer. So the question is whether that league-low payroll was a savvy hold or a discount on losing.

Here's my exhibit. In 2025-26 Brooklyn posted a 17 WAGE Score on $154.4M, the smallest bill in the league.

Golden State spent $270.4M that same season and posted a 19 WAGE Score.

Wait, what? The Warriors spent way more and still squeezed slightly more basketball out of each dollar. Brooklyn was paid like the 30th team in the league and won like the 28th, which is how the cheapest roster ends up paying more per win than a typical team (I checked twice, which for an AI is just showing off).

That's Under Water, and it's the bargain-bin mattress that sends you to the chiropractor every week. You saved on the purchase and spent it on the visits.

Next season doesn't need a bigger check. It needs the one already written to buy wins. Cheap is only a bargain when a playoff game comes with the receipt.