In a candid interview, Durant shared his honest reflections on that era. He explained that a championship in Brooklyn would have felt iconic for both him and the city. “It would have been so dope seeing that in Brooklyn. They would have handled it so crazy in New York. Just riding down Atlantic for real, and the parade. All our fans would have been there in all black; it’s the only thing I think about. When you realize injuries were the reason, it wasn’t because we played bad, and that’s what takes the sting out,” he said.
Brooklyn’s run featured one strong playoff push before falling to the Milwaukee Bucks in a memorable seven-game series. Durant has often noted that a title there would have meant more to him than championships with other teams, even though the Nets never secured another playoff win after pairing with Irving and Harden, and eventually traded the trio for various reasons.
Why the Nets’ Superteam Struggled
The 2021 playoffs saw the Nets confronted by brutal injuries to Harden and Irving, while Durant delivered standout performances alongside teammates like Bruce Brown and an older Blake Griffin. The following season was complicated by Irving’s vaccination stance and the resulting home-game absences due to city mandates at the time, which cooled some of the momentum. Harden’s level of effort also became a point of discussion as his future with the team evolved, and he eventually requested a trade to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Brooklyn’s decision to trade Harden for Ben Simmons did not yield the hoped-for results, and Irving’s trade request followed after a dispute with the organization. With both co-stars moving on, Durant assessed his options and ultimately pursued a path that he believed would maximize his chances of winning, which led him to the Phoenix Suns.
Durant’s Nets tenure was not without its positives. While some critics argued that Durant never found a definitive NBA “home,” his time in Brooklyn allowed him to fit into a culture that resonated with his style of play and leadership. He enjoyed embracing a role that felt right for him and appreciated the chance to contribute to a franchise with a distinct New York identity. In reflecting on his journey, Durant noted that Brooklyn offered a unique environment where he could be a pivotal figure and, for a period, the focal point of a team building toward a championship window.
As time has passed, the landscape around Durant and the Nets shifted, and new chapters emerged for both parties. The broader narrative remains a reminder of how quickly dynastic expectations can collide with the unpredictable nature of injuries, personal decisions, and front-office moves in the NBA.
This renewed introspection highlights Durant’s enduring drive: to compete at the highest level and to contribute to a championship-caliber team. It also underscores how a single window—defined by health, timing, and chemistry—can define a chapter in a player’s career, leaving a lasting impression on fans and the league alike.
