It was Kevin Durant’s commerce request that formally ended the Nets’ most up-to-date window of competition.
Now that they’ve lastly began a rebuild two years later, Durant has watched from afar and stated he can see it on the right track.
Durant introduced his Suns to Barclays Middle on Wednesday, the place he’d mixed with Kyrie Irving and James Harden to type one of the crucial potent Huge 3’s in NBA historical past.
However they spectacularly flamed out, profitable only a single playoff collection within the elements of 4 seasons Durant and Irving had been collectively.
“You see so many followers who nonetheless bear in mind these instances and respect it — although we went by means of plenty of dysfunction, I suppose you might name it, for lack of a greater time period. However no matter that, lots of people nonetheless supported and nonetheless got here out, cheered loud as hell for the sport of basketball and for the Nets,” Durant stated. “It was right here on this borough of Brooklyn, the little brother. It was all the time enjoyable being a little bit brother and representing the little brother within the metropolis.”
Durant famously spurned the large brother, rejected the Knicks to return to Brooklyn as a package deal cope with Irving in 2019.
They recruited Harden to type a Huge 3 that misplaced to eventual champ Milwaukee within the 2021 Japanese Convention semifinals when each Harden and Irving received harm.
Irving missed two-thirds of the subsequent season for refusing to stick to town’s COVID vaccine mandates, and Harden demanded a transfer on the commerce deadline.
After Irving did the identical on the subsequent yr’s deadline, Durant lastly requested out.
The Huge 3 was over after simply 16 appearances collectively, undone by a bunch of things.
“Accidents, COVID, us simply not getting on the courtroom,” Durant stated. “These two had been the most important elements. Individuals would say our attitudes, three guys’ personalities didn’t mesh properly. [There were] plenty of narratives going round about every particular person participant — me, James and Kyrie — about our mentality as males. However as soon as we received on the courtroom and as soon as we truly performed collectively, when you noticed the tradition we had been constructing, it was one thing the followers might get behind.
“That first yr when James received right here midway by means of the season was a few of the most unimaginable basketball that I’ve seen, I performed in. However extra so than something — within the locker room, the bus rides, the airplane rides, the motels — that was the tradition we had been constructing. Lots of people didn’t get to see it, however I want they may have. It was particular.
“The primary factor was that we simply didn’t get on the courtroom collectively and plenty of accidents — accidents to me, James and Kyrie performed an element. Together with COVID, that entire factor simply [caused] plenty of s–t.”
Durant got here into Barclays averaging a stellar 27.3 factors, however he’s 36 and his Suns had been simply .500 (21-21).
Brooklyn was 14-30, however tops the NBA in each wage cap area this summer season (an estimated $65 million) and future first-round picks (15, 4 of them this June).
Most of that draft haul is both instantly or not directly from the Durant commerce — eight unprotected firsts, one other frivolously protected first and a swap.
“Positively, I wish to see this franchise do properly,” Durant stated of the Nets. “What’s it, 12 or 13 picks that they’ve received? Property, that’s an important factor with a rebuilding group is the property. The product on the ground, it may be inconsistent some video games. They beat us early within the season and seemed nice, and then you definately lose to the Clippers by 40 or 50, and that may not look nice.
“However if you have a look at the large image, you’ve received younger guys which can be getting expertise and enjoying time. You’re constructing property and getting future picks. And hopefully you’ll be able to draft properly, put the crew collectively properly. So I believe they’re strolling in the fitting path. I believe the followers positively wish to see some nice basketball on the ground, and I believe it’s coming for this crew.”