Kevin Durant most undoubtedly needed to be traded this previous summer time.
KD had points with the path that the Brooklyn Nets have been heading, and was most definitely not glad with the teaching. That was the report in the course of the offseason, and he confirmed it to Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes.
In an unique interview, Durant talked to Haynes concerning the turmoil surrounding the Nets and their tough begin to the 2021-22 season after getting trounced by the Sacramento Kings, 153-121, on nationwide tv.
“It wasn’t tough in any respect to request a commerce, as a result of it was about ball,” Durant stated to Haynes.
In telling his aspect of the story, Durant’s complaints sound like your common, on a regular basis, upset Jimmy Butler. He was sad with the quantity of Nets practices, and what they have been going over throughout these classes. Durant apparently loves closeout drills the way in which most American employees love a free lunch, as a result of he talked about twice that the Nets wanted extra of these in observe.
It’s virtually Thanksgiving. The Nets are much more chaotic than they have been final season, and enjoying worse basketball. Ben Simmons is typically on the court docket, generally not. And when he’s enjoying, he has been a worse participant than he was throughout his notorious meltdown within the 2021 playoffs whereas with the Philadelphia 76ers. Kyrie Irving determined to submit a hyperlink to an anti-Semetic movie simply days after Adidas dropped Kanye “Ye” West for constantly making these sorts of statements publicly. Irving is at present suspended indefinitely and the Nets are 6-9.
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Nonetheless, Durant was adamant that he’s fantastic with the present state of the Nets. He spoke positively of latest head coach Jacque Vaughn, as a result of I suppose they’re each huge followers of closeout drills at observe. Durant claimed that he enjoys having to navigate 5 defenders, as a result of it’s making him a greater participant. Whereas this season is at present aimed in the wrong way of the postseason it’s all good, as a result of he will get to impart his knowledge on these inexperienced, and in line with him, mediocre NBA gamers.
“Have a look at our beginning lineup. Edmond Sumner, Royce O’Neale, Joe Harris, [Nic] Claxton and me. It’s not disrespect, however what are you anticipating from that group?” Durant stated to Haynes. “You anticipate us to win as a result of I’m on the market. So for those who’re watching from that lens, you’re anticipating us to play nicely as a result of No. 7 is on the market.”
Final season, Durant felt just like the workforce was transferring within the fallacious path and was shedding respect within the basketball world. With the Nets turning into much less and fewer centered, and enjoying “like shit,” He assumed that the blame was going to fall on him, and advised Haynes that’s the reason he requested the commerce.
One factor Durant most definitely clarified, is why Steve Nash received canned as Nets coach 13 days into the common season. When the information broke that Durant had requested a commerce, it was reported that he gave the Nets an ultimatum. Both hearth Nash and normal supervisor Sean Marks, or ship him out. Cooler heads prevailed when all sides realized that transferring the 34-year-old famous person who had achilles tendon surgical procedure three years in the past can be extraordinarily tough. The Nets braintrust met with Durant at his house in Los Angeles, and labored out a method for him to return.
Nonetheless, Durant insisted to the media that he was “shocked” when Nash was let go.
If the Nets had began the season on a five-game successful streak, possibly it may have purchased Nash a while. As a substitute they misplaced 5 of their first seven video games.
As the vacation season approaches, moreover Nash, there isn’t a lot distinction with the Nets from final season. Simmons is on the roster as a substitute of James Harden, O’neal as a substitute of Bruce Brown, Irving isn’t allowed on the ground, and the workforce is a disappointment.
Let Durant inform it although, it’s all good. The Nets could also be a multitude, however this can be a mess that he can dwell with.