Kevin Durant definitely wanted to be traded this past summer.
KD has a problem with the direction of the Brooklyn Nets and is certainly not happy with the coaching. It was reported during the season, and he confirmed it with Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report.
In an exclusive interview, Durant spoke with Haynes about the turmoil surrounding the Nets and their rough start to the 2021-22 season after receiving defeat of the Sacramento Kings, 153-121, on national television.
“It’s not hard at all to ask for a trade, because it’s about the ball,” Durant told Haynes.
When it comes to telling the story from his side, Durant’s complaints sound like your normal, everyday Jimmy Butler, making you uncomfortable. He was not satisfied with the amount of Nets practice sessions and what they went through in those sessions. Durant seems to love closing drills the way most American workers love free lunches, because he mentioned twice that the Nets needed more than that in reality.
It’s almost Thanksgiving. The Nets were even more chaotic than last season and played worse basketball. Ben Simmons sometimes on the field, sometimes not. And while he was playing, he was a worse player than he was during his infamous defeat in the 2021 knockout stages with the Philadelphia 76ers. Kyrie Irving decided to post a link to an anti-Semitic movie just days after Adidas dropped it Kanye “Ye” West for consistently making those kinds of statements publicly. Irving is currently suspended indefinitely and the Nets are 6-9.
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However, Durant was adamant that he is fine with the current state of the Nets. He spoke positively of new head coach Jacque Vaughn, because I guess they’re both big fans of closeout drills at practice. Durant claimed that he enjoys having to navigate five defenders, because it’s making him a better player. While this season is currently aimed in the opposite direction of the postseason it’s all good, because he gets to impart his wisdom on these inexperienced, and according to him, mediocre NBA players.
“Look at our starting lineup. Edmond Sumner, Royce O’Neale, Joe Harris, [Nic] Claxton and I. It’s not disrespectful, but what are you expecting from that group? Durant told Haynes. “You expect us to win because I am out there. So if you’re watching from that lens, you’re expecting us to play well because the number 7 is already out there.”
Last season, Durant felt like the team was going in the wrong direction and losing respect in the world of basketball. With the Nets becoming less and less focused and playing crap, he assumed the blame was on him and told Haynes that’s why he asked for the trade.
One thing that Durant certainly made most clear, is why Steve Nash was selected as the Nets coach after 13 days of the regular season. When it was reported that Durant requested the transaction, it was reported that he gave the Nets an ultimatum. Either fire Nash and general manager Sean Marks, or fire him. Cooling head prevails when both sides realized that the move of the 34-year-old superstar, who had surgery on his Achilles tendon 3 years ago, would be extremely difficult. Nets’ trust meet Durant at his home in Los Angeles, and find a way to get him back.
Still, Durant emphasized to the media that he was “shocked” when Nash was released.
If the Nets had started the season on a five-game winning streak, they could have bought time for Nash. Instead, they lost five of their first seven games.
As the holiday season approaches, aside from Nash, not much is different for the Nets from last season. Simmons was on the roster for James Harden, O’neal for Bruce Brown, Irving was not allowed on the floor, and the team was a disappointment.
Let Durant say it, all is well. The Nets may be a mess, but this is the mess he can live with.
