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NEW YORK – The Brooklyn Nets honored the victims of the Hanukkah massacre in Sydney during a Hanukkah celebration at the Barclays Center during the team’s game against the Miami Heat on Thursday night.
Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez said the team’s thoughts and prayers are with the Jewish community.
“Yeah, I mean, all our thoughts and prayers go out to the community, and it was a sad day. You never want to see that, no matter what beliefs, what religion,” Fernandez told reporters in his post-match press conference.
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Head coach Jordi Fernandez of the Brooklyn Nets reacts during the first half against the Miami Heat at the Barclays Center in the Brooklyn borough of New York on December 18, 2025. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
“It was sad, it should never have happened, and you don’t want to see that anywhere in the world. Anything we can do to show our support, we will.”
A giant basketball menorah was lit during the game by the 14-year-old nephew of Rabbi Eli Schlanger, who was killed in the Sydney massacre last week. The ceremony was facilitated by the Chabad Teen Network, the world’s largest teen organization.
PK Press Club Digital spoke with Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky of Chabad World Headquarters, who said the Nets recognizing Hanukkah and celebrating Jewish heritage is one of the things that “makes America great.”
THE NETS HONOR VICTIMS OF HANUKKAH ATTACK IN AUSTRALIA AND LIGHT THE MENORAH DURING THE MATCH
A menorah made of basketballs overlooks the Barclays Center before the Brooklyn Nets take on the Miami Heat in Brooklyn, New York on December 18, 2025. (Ryan Canfield/PK Press Club)
“I think it’s really, really amazing to see America in all its glory, where it represents what we believe in. And we celebrate our ideals and our traditions, and our holidays, and that’s supported by the Nets, which is an incredible franchise,” Kotlarsky said.
“Being able to recognize and give a voice to many teenagers who may not be in a Jewish school or a Jewish (ChaBad) school, proudly celebrating their heritage is one of the things that makes America great. One of the things that makes sports, the tool and vessel that it is, to reach across the aisles and allow young people to be proud of who they are.”
The Nets have two Jewish players on their team, Danny Wolf and Ben Saraf, and Kotlarsky said they inspire young people, showing them they can pursue their dreams without compromising their values.
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Brooklyn Nets forward Danny Wolf (2) drives to the basket in front of Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis (9) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in New York, December 14, 2025. (Heather Khalifa/AP Photo)
Wolf played more than 12 minutes in the team’s 106-95 loss to the Heat, scoring eight points while grabbing two rebounds.
“People see that no matter where you come from or wherever your humble beginnings are, you can still be proud of who you are and rise to the top, and you are celebrated for who (you are). I think the key message, about the whole celebration, is one that we celebrate proudly, that light has infinitely more power than darkness and for them to be on the team to be able to say, ‘You are passionate about basketball and you can make it,'” said Kotlarsky.
“You can celebrate who you are.”
