Mikhail Prokhorov.
We learned yesterday that Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov will challenge Vladimir Putin for the Russian presidency, and the NBA says that’s okay with them. Said league spokesperson Mike Bass, via the Times: “There is no prohibition on N.B.A. owners running for or holding political office.” (League officials noted that Bucks owner Herb Kohl serves in the U.S. Senate.) Still unclear, however: what this might mean for that mysterious-sounding “element of surprise from Russia” we were promised last year that the Nets would utilize. [NYT]