EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New Jersey Nets' sad-sack season appeared to hit another low Monday night when CEO Brett Yormark shouted at a fan wearing a paper bag over his head.
Yormark left his courtside seat at the IZOD Center late in the second half of New Jersey's 99-89 loss to the Miami Heat. Yormark then doubled back toward the fan, identified by the New York Daily News as Chris Lisi of Middletown, N.J.
It was at that point that Yormark, Lisi and a friend of Lisi's got into a shouting match with reporters and photographers nearby.
Lisi told the Daily News that the CEO initiated the exchange by asking him why he had a bag on his head. Lisi's response -- "because the Nets are so good," according to the paper. Yormark then snapped at him and walked off, Lisi told the Daily News.
"I did not agree with the way this person expressed his opinion of our team last night and I let him know," Yormark said in a statement issued Tuesday. "It's been a frustrating season for all of us, but I will continue to stand up for our players, our fans, and our organization."
The Nets are 7-63 and extended a franchise record with their 14th straight loss at home Monday. It also was New Jersey's eighth straight defeat on their way toward possibly finishing with the worst record in NBA history.
New Jersey has to win two of its final 12 games to avoid breaking the Philadelphia 76ers' mark for futility (9-73), set in the 1972-73 season.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.