There is NO WAY the Nets could over take the Knicks in popularity. It's like say the Clippers can pull ahead of the Lakers in popularity. Or the JETS more than the GIANTS or METS over the Yankees or Islanders or the Rangers? Too much history to suddenly change. That happens with cities like Miami that have little sports history. Not in NYC, not in Chicago and not in LA.
Well, blanket statements don't work in this case...it's a little more complicated than that. Every situation is different. I'll do them in order...
1. The Rangers will never be passed in popularity by the Islanders or Devils. You can't do any more than they did...the Islanders won four straight Stanley Cups in the 80's, the Devils have won three Stanley Cups in the last 15 years, the Devils have opened up a beautiful new building...but the Rangers are the only team that has consistently sold out during that entire time.
The Devils almost moved to Nashville in the 90's and the Islanders have one foot out the door right now because they can't get an arena built on Long Island. Ranger fans were Kansas City Islander shirts to games. That tells you all you need to know.
Aside from football where they play eight home games, the Rangers are the only team that sells out each and every game regardless of their record.
2. The Knicks are ingrained in everyone's psyche. The Nets have never established any traction in the area. The Nets have been in the finals twice the last ten years, but nobody here even remembers that. There is thought that moving to Brooklyn will channel some of the Brooklyn Dodgers civic mentality, as Brooklynites have been looking for something to call their own for more than 50 years. Time will tell. I'm a Brooklynite (we moved to NJ when I was 7), but I'm sticking with the Knicks myself...
3. While the Jets may never overtake the Giants in popularity, at least not in this generation, they are a lot closer to the Giants than the arorementioned teams are to the the Knicks and the Rangers. Knick and Ranger fans know the other teams are no threat, and will probably keep moving around during this century to find fans. Giant fans are really nervous and annoyed because not only have Jet fans always had an identity, now Rex Ryan is dominating the newspapers for both good and bad reasons. And this is the NFL, where there are a lot more fans to divide among the teams.
4. The Mets/Yankees are the most interesting case. There is no denying the popularity of the Yankees, they are definitely the most popular sports team in the city. Part of that is because first and foremost New York is one of the few cities where baseball is more popular than football, and part of that is because they compete for the championship each and every year.
But a lot of people think New York is a National league town, because of the history of the Giants and Dodgers. The trials and tribulations of the Mets over the last five years have altered perception to some extent, but when the Mets are good (or at least not embarassing themselves on or off the field), their following is large and rabid. Definitely rivals the Yankees following.
Sandra