Ivan Petrov – Brooklyn Nets

Ivan Petrov is a man who thrives on spectacle. A Russian oligarch who made his fortune in steel before pivoting into cryptocurrency, he is part billionaire playboy, part ruthless tactician. His takeover of the Nets was splashed across tabloids from Moscow to Manhattan, complete with champagne parties on yachts and helicopters landing at practice facilities.

Petrov’s hands-on visionary approach is equal parts thrilling and terrifying. One week he’s promising a five-year plan, the next he’s demanding a blockbuster trade. His patience rating sits at rock bottom, and his players know he’ll flip the roster if it means making headlines.

He treats ownership as both business and theater — flashing luxury branding, star-chasing PR stunts, and ruthless decision-making that can fracture morale. Yet there’s no denying the attention he brings to Brooklyn.

Petrov’s biggest rival? Anyone who dares suggest New York basketball belongs to the Knicks. His mantra: “This is a long game, and I’m playing it to win.”