NEW YORK (AP) - Bringing a major sports franchise back to Brooklyn makes Jay-Z feel like he's living the American dream.

The 42-year-old music mogul and entrepreneur says when he was a kid growing up in Brooklyn, he pretended on the basketball court to hit the winning shot at the buzzer. He never dreamed he'd own a basketball team. Now Jay is part owner of the Brooklyn Nets and instrumental in moving the franchise from New Jersey.

He feels his rags-to-riches story embodies all that is possible in America.

And before his new team takes to the court, the rapper will christen the new arena with an eight-show run beginning Friday.

Jay made the comments at the launch of the video game NBA 2K13, which he acted as executive producer.