NEW YORK — It was a surreal scene outside of the Nets practice facility Tuesday morning, just a half-mile from where a gunman opened fire on a crowded N train in Brooklyn.
Helicopters buzzed around Sunset Park, searching for the runaway gunman who tossed smoke bombs, leaving behind several undetonated, and left at least 16 people injured.
An employee in the lobby of the HSS Training Center was quizzing the guard about the building’s security measures, asking why the front door wasn’t locked and saying she needs to relay information to anxious co-workers.
“Is this glass bullet-proof,” the woman asked.
The proximity wasn’t lost on the members of the Nets, who were preparing for Tuesday night’s play-in game against the Cavaliers. The train the attack occurred while stopped at the 36th Street station in Sunset Park, and when the doors opened, wounded passengers collapsed onto the platform, others ran from the train car. That subway station is the closest to the Nets’ training facility.
Most of the players heard about the attack while commuting to the morning shootaround or after arriving.
“It’s really close,” guard Goran Dragic said. “It’s kind of scary of how close. I’ve already been in the subway a couple times, but now I have my doubts.”
Nets coach Steve Nash said there was no consideration to cancel the shootaround because the team had already gathered.
“We didn’t know any details, really,” Nash said. “They were just like, ‘There’s something going on out there.’ That’s all we knew. I’m still not even sure exactly what’s happened. When we got some information, we were kind of already underway.”
The gunman, who was wearing a gas mask and construction vest, opened fire on unsuspecting N train strap-hangers just before 8:30 a.m., New york Daily News law enforcement sources said. He was still at large as the Nets held their shootaround, which started at 10 a.m.
Kevin Durant’s first clue of a commotion was a text alert that there was traffic.
“I just found out that there was gonna be some traffic,” the former MVP said. “But they always text us when there’s traffic and get there a little early. But I didn’t know the specific reason until I got into the building. You see the helicopters out front. You just want everything to work out and figure it out.”
“Just, it’s devastating to hear about,” Durant added. “I don’t know too many details, but to hear the sirens out front of the practice facility and see so much commotion going on outside, you hope and pray for the best for everybody involved.”
The Nets can clinch the seventh-seed and a playoff spot with a victory Tuesday night.
“It’s obviously a very tragic morning,” Nash said. “We’re devastated for the community and those directly involved. I don’t know all of the details so I don’t want to get too far into it. But we’re just all concerned for everyone involved try to prepare for the task at hand the best we can.”
