Addressing reporters at the Nets‘ media day on Monday, Kevin Durant explained that he requested a trade this offseason because he had some “doubts” about whether the Nets were building a legitimate championship culture (Twitter link via Tania Ganguli of The New York Times).
“I wanted everybody to be held accountable for their habits as a basketball player,” Durant said, per Mark W. Sanchez of The New York Post. “I think a lot of stuff was getting swept under the rug because we’re injured or this guy’s not around or just the circumstances. I thought we could have fought through that a little bit more and focused on the guys that were here a little bit more.
“When I went out with the injury, we lost 10 in a row. And I’m like, ‘We shouldn’t be losing some of these games that we lost, regardless of who’s on the floor.’ So I was more so worried about how we’re approaching every day as a basketball team. And I felt like we could have fought through a lot of the stuff that I felt that held us back.”
Durant said he wasn’t disappointed not to be dealt and that he’s committed to the Nets going forward (Twitter links via Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic and Adam Zagoria of NJ.com). He also admitted that he wasn’t surprised to remain a Net, since general manager Sean Marks and the team’s front office set a sky-high asking price.
“I know I’m that good, that you’re just not going to give me away,” Durant said.
In his own media session, Marks said that he feels good about where things stand with Durant, adding that if the star forward “still wanted out, he wouldn’t be here” (Twitter link via Vorkunov). He also said the Nets made a legitimate effort to trade Durant, though he admitted he was fielding outside inquiries more than he was instigating discussions.
“Yeah, absolutely we made those calls and we at least picked up the phone when teams called us,” Marks told YES Network (Twitter link via Zagoria). “I gotta be honest, I wasn’t making a whole lot of outgoing calls, I mean why would you do that?”
Here’s more on the Nets:
- Steve Nash downplayed the fact that Durant reportedly called for the head coach’s job as part of his ultimatum to the Nets, likening it to a family squabble and telling reporters that he and KD got together to talk it out (Twitter link via Brian Lewis of The New York Post).
- Kyrie Irving, who referred to Brooklyn’s summer as a “clusterf–k,” said he came close to leaving the Nets before picking up his player option, adding that he had some other options, but “not many,” Sanchez writes for The Post. Irving admitted that potential suitors had concerns about his availability and his commitment.
- Interestingly, Irving stated that his decision to remain unvaccinated against COVID-19 cost him a lucrative long-term extension offer from the Nets during the 2021 offseason. “I gave up four years, $100-something million deciding to be unvaccinated, and that was the decision,” Irving said, per Sanchez.
- A pair of Nets wings are still awaiting full clearance following injuries, according to Nick Friedell of ESPN (Twitter links). Seth Curry, who underwent ankle surgery in May, said today that he’s at “85-90 percent” and isn’t fully cleared to participate in camp. Meanwhile, T.J. Warren said the foot injury that cost him all of the 2021/22 season is fully healed, but he still needs to do more rehab work to get cleared by team doctors.
- Ben Simmons is “ready to go” and will be a full participant in training camp, he said today (Twitter link via Friedell). As long as he remains healthy through the preseason, the plan is for the former No. 1 overall pick to be on the floor when the Nets’ season begins, tweets Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports. Simmons also said he’s willing to play center for his new team (Twitter link via Zagoria).
He wasn’t disappointed not to be dealt.
Ok.
Simmons is a non factor at crunch time. A liability when the game is tight. A proven choke artist. Can’t be counted on. A head case.
I mean, he’s not a non-factor cause he factors in on D and also offensive rebounding. With KD and Kyrie it doesn’t matter that much if Simmons isn’t a threat at the end of games on offense.
I heard that in philly and he cost them over and over and over and over and over and over and over.
Ridiculous comment. Guy is an All NBA player. How quickly people forget. You’re basing your opinion on one play.
Hard to forget the dude had the lowest free throw percentage in nba playoff history and that he played scared. Seems his “All star” shines brightest when the lights are the dimmest
Excellent point andy and valid as hell.
Watching pretty much every Sixers game little ben ever played friend, his flaws outweigh his benefits. To many holes. Sits when the game is tight because hes unable to hit a free throw. Will not shoot. Refuses to I repeat refuses to add to his game. Worst of all,quit on his team,teammates and fans.
The Brooklyn Nets are going to be great this season. Ben Simmons on another level. He’s about to have a great season!!!
The same mantra heard in philly.
Try watching his game over a Sixers career then make a statement
I watched those games, man… and it matters a hell of a lot that he needed to be a big part of their offense in Philly… my original point stands. He played awesome D against Trae but killed them on offense… if Philly had either KD or Kyrie on that team instead of Tobias Harris it would be a different story.
My god man they had joel Emvp.
Umm – but KD plus Kyrie is what I’m talking about.
Do you want to make a rational argument or are you just married to your original point?
Well, now he’ll have two MVP level scorers in the Slim Reaper and Kyrie + a pair of sharpshooters in Seth and Joey Buckets (with Patty not far behind. Also, if TJ Warren is fully healthy, they’ll be a force to be reckoned with.
Never won anything. Joel Ealmostmvp
on paper… i really like the nets roster.
On paper they are a 60 win team.
No question they should be better than last year. 50 wins + if they stay healthy.
They’re still very thin at the 5, and saying Ben will be playing significant minutes at the 5 is unlikely to actually happen.