Kevin Durant reveals his current feelings about the Nets organization

Kevin Durant‘s stint with the Brooklyn Nets shows how quickly things can change in the NBA. In 2021, the Nets looked like the favorite to win; instead, thanks to Durant’s enormous shoe size, they were unable to knock off the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA playoffs. And then during the 2022-23 season, it looked like the Nets were righting the ship after Kyrie Irving’s social media woes — but it wasn’t long after snapping an impressive winning streak that Durant requested a trade, which led to his move to the Phoenix Suns.

And while Durant (and Irving) lost faith in the direction the franchise was headed, especially after Irving’s controversies caused the Nets to lose confidence in their star point guard, the Suns star he wants nothing but the best for his former team.

“I want to see this franchise do well.” What is it that they have 12-13 picks?… When you look at the big picture, you have young guys getting experience, building assets and getting future picks. I hope you can build and build a team well. I think they’re going in the right direction,” Durant said before the Suns’ 108-84 win over the Nets on Wednesday night, via Michael Scott of HoopsHipe .

The Nets have really embraced the rebuilding process; they got plenty of draft capital in the trade that sent Durant to the Nets, and they could trade the Suns picks they got to get their picks back from the Houston Rockets — the draft assets they lost in the 2021 trade for James Harden.

Brooklyn isn’t done dealing either; Cam Johnson, one of the main pieces they got in the Durant trade with the Suns, should also bring them a nice return. The Networks will be bad for at least the next few yearsbut they shouldn’t be too far from building a solid young core.

Kevin Durant almost brought the Nets to the promised land

In 2019, Kevin Durant felt like he needed a new career challenge, taking his talents to the Nets after a successful three-year stint with the Golden State Warriors. Durant then returned during the 2020-21 season and was as good as advertised, especially during the 2021 NBA Playoffs.

Durant was a monster during that postseason run, he averaged 34.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 4.4 assists on 51/40/87 shooting. If James Harden and Kyrie Irving had stayed healthy for the Nets during that year, then Durant might already have his third ring — and he might still be in Brooklyn to this day.