The Twins Take Manhattan

Hitting the court with NBA centers Brook and Robin Lopez, who are about to tear New York in two.

- Max Rivlin-Nadler

ON A CLEAR SUMMER MORNING in downtown Manhattan, an SUV pulls up outside an empty basketball court. Twins—two absolute giants of men—exit the car and make their way toward the blacktop, each holding on to new basketball shoes. One, Brook Lopez, is a Brooklyn Net. The other, Robin Lopez, is a newly minted New York Knick. And they’re about to begin what is, technically speaking, the very first hometown face-off of their professional careers—and a media storm that will likely consume them all season.

Get ready, New York City: Your newest, greatest cross-city rivals are about to play H-O-R-S-E.

“These are actually my brother’s shoes,” Robin says, as he warms up. “I don’t have any of my things here yet. Luckily, we’re the same size.” (That’s size 20.)