A couple of weeks ago, we told you about the new Kevin Durant book that was released by the man he is supposedly rooting for–KD–and it turns out the narrative is actually a bit more complicated than you might have thought. But, you see, KD himself isn’t the one writing the book. It’s actually Boston Celtics guard Kyrie Irving, and that’s why KD is with the Nets.
Before we get started, let’s get some ground rules out of the way: We’re going to assume that the Warriors signing Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving was purely a basketball move. There is a chance that the Nets had something to do with the hiring, but that’s less likely since they’ve been considered an up-and-coming organization for a few years now.
Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are both NBA superstars who are currently playing for teams in the New York City borough of Brooklyn: Kevin Durant is on the Brooklyn Nets while Kyrie Irving is on the Brooklyn Nets.. Read more about where is kyrie irving from and let us know what you think.
There may not be as many ideas as there are money in Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving’s respective contracts on why they picked the Brooklyn Nets. It just seems to be that way. However, a recent book by a journalist who spent many months with the Nets offers some answers to the issue.
The Nets have never attracted the best of the free-agent crop since the NBA established unrestricted free agency in the 1988 summer. Durant and Irving altered people’s minds. Brooklyn has won the James Harden trade sweepstakes and attracted buyout free agents Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge since their arrival. For Nets supporters, they are novelties.
Though they were together in Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 Olympics, Durant and Irving were never NBA teammates. That was the beginning of one of the NBA’s most important power plays.
The Silver Cloud, Kevin Durant, and Kyrie Irving
Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving have only met during the regular season and during All-Star Weekend before facing off in the 2017 NBA Finals. The basis of their present relationship was laid the first time they came together as colleagues.
The 2016 Olympic Games were held in Rio de Janeiro. According to ESPN’s Jackie MacMullen, Durant, Irving, and DeAndre Jordan boarded the Silver Cloud, a luxury liner. When the ship arrived in Rio, the three of them exercised, ate, played cards, and chatted.
This agreement also explains how Jordan became a part of the Brooklyn Nets’ package deal. Durant and Jordan have known each other when Durant was a student at the University of Texas. He attempted to get Jordan to join the Longhorns. In 2015 (Jordan) and 2016, they assisted each other get through tough free agency periods (Durant). While they were in Rio, they formed a friendship with Irving.
It was similar to the rumored connection between LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, who established the Miami Heat’s Big Three period during the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
The Rio three wanted to perform as a unit. Durant and Irving, on the other hand, were searching for something more.
A power play was launched against the Brooklyn Nets.
Author Sullivan, Matt discussed what he discovered about Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving’s friendship during an interview on the Brian Windhorst and The Hoop Collective podcast. More to the point, Sullivan — who previously released Can’t Knock the Hustle in 2021 — explained why they chose the Brooklyn Nets.
According to Sullivan, then-Nets coach Kenny Atkinson was lobbying for Kawhi Leonard among the free-agent class’s top players. When Brooklyn general manager Sean Marks heard Leonard was returning to Los Angeles, he focused on Durant and Irving. Sullivan proposed a hypothesis as to why this was the case.
“There’s the easy public justification of saying, ‘Oh, there’s a lovely practice facility, and a fantastic GM, and fantastic pieces.’ Kyrie was chastised for talking about the pieces too much. But I believe it was a franchise they were able to manage from top to bottom.”
Sullivan, Matt
The idea came into clarity when the Golden State Warriors went on a road trip to Boston.
“They were both in bad situations in January 2019.” The Warriors traveled to Boston to compete against the Celtics. KD went to Kyrie’s house in the Boston suburbs for supper. Kyrie has been going through a difficult time since his grandpa passed away. KD wasn’t happy with his position, and it was just like, ‘OK, Brooklyn.’ And I don’t believe it was Kyrie acting as a recruiter as much as it was Kyrie’s downtrodden pals. They’d reached the summit, and they’d both triumphed, but they still wanted to create something on their own terms.”
Matt Sullivan
However, there were roadblocks on the path to becoming a true superteam.
Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving’s relationship had a rocky start.
On April 16, 2021, in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, Kyrie Irving (11) of the Brooklyn Nets looks to pass as Kevin Durant (7) looks on during the first half versus the Charlotte Hornets at Barclays Center. | Getty Images/Sarah Stier
After Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving joined the Brooklyn Nets in July 2019, it was not an immediate success. Durant missed the whole 2019–20 season due to an Achilles tendon injury. Irving only appeared in 20 games due to a shoulder ailment.
Last season, the Nets acquired Harden and finished second in the Eastern Conference before losing in the second round to the eventual champion Milwaukee Bucks. The trio only played eight games together during the regular season, and Irving and Harden both missed time in the playoffs due to injury. The Nets are the favourites to win the NBA championship next season.
According to rumors, Irving and Harden are nearing a contract extension. Durant has already signed his contract. Steve Nash, who has a strong connection with Durant, is in his second season as the Brooklyn Nets’ head coach.
The Brooklyn Nets seem to be on the verge of winning their first title. It all began with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving making a similar move.
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