Kevin Durant is one of the NBA’s most unique talents. In 2021, he was named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team, cementing his status as an all-time great. At nearly 7 feet tall, he can shoot over any defender, yet he handles the basketball like a guard. His shot-creating and all-around play has benefitted several teams, but his time with the Brooklyn Nets was special. The “Brooklyn Reaper” played two and a half seasons for the Nets. While he did not win a championship, he helped propel the franchise forward and provided excitement for countless fans in the borough across the bridge.
The Brooklyn Reaper – Kevin Durant’s Brooklyn Nets Legacy
Season 1 (2019-20): Recovering From Injury
In the summer of 2019, Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Kevin Durant signed a 4-year deal with the Brooklyn Nets. The news shocked and excited NBA fans around the world. The prior season, Durant was an All-NBA player averaging 26.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 5.9 assists with the Golden State Warriors. There was no doubt he could take Brooklyn to the next level, but his challenge was recovering from the Achilles injury he suffered in the 2019 NBA Finals.
Durant wasted no time rehabbing his Achilles. Within a month, he was spotted shooting baskets in a swimming pool. His initiative and dedication to healing his injury set the tone for what he brought to the Nets. In addition to his rehab, Durant was seen on the sidelines supporting the team. By February 2020, word came out that Durant was able to run, jump, and shoot on his Achilles with good intensity. He was cautious in his return though, electing not to play in the 2020 NBA Bubble. After working hard throughout the season, Durant was ready for his Nets debut at the start of the 2020-21 season.
Season 2 (2020-21): Establishing Greatness in Brooklyn
Kevin Durant made his Brooklyn Nets debut on Tuesday, December 22nd, 2020. He scored 22 points in 25 minutes.
Durant picked up where he left off two seasons prior. He demonstrated his exceptional shot-making, slashing, playmaking, and defense. Although he was troubled by a minor injury, Durant’s tremendous play continued throughout the 2020-21 season. He averaged 26.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 5.6 assists. Durant helped the Nets land the 2nd seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs with a 48-24 record. His play during this time was historical.
An Iconic Performance
The Brooklyn Nets faced Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2021 Eastern Conference Semifinals. The series was legendary, taking a full seven games to complete. What was more legendary was Kevin Durant’s performance. In Game 5, he was inhumane. He played all 48 minutes and notched a 49-point triple-double shooting 44.4 % on threes and 69.6% overall. That historical performance was not the end of his display though. In a win-or-go-home Game 7, Durant put the team on his back. The game came down to the wire, and Durant delivered a thrilling jump shot to force overtime.
The Nets were down two towards the end of overtime, and Durant once again took the last shot. He air-balled, giving the Bucks the final possession and the win. Durant finished the game with 48 points in 53 minutes. He gave all he had, and his performance endeared him greatly to the Brooklyn Nets community. His dominant play would continue into the next season, but would he see the same playoff success as before?
Season 3 (2021-22): Regular Season Greatness, Playoff Struggles
Kevin Durant had another impressive year with the Nets during the 2021-22 season. He averaged 29.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, and a career-high 6.4 assists per game. Durant was one of the few players to average 50/40/90 shooting splits for the regular season. The middle of the season saw Durant hindered by another nagging injury. He suffered an MCL sprain that held him out until the playoffs. Durant returned just in time for the Nets’ first-round matchup against the Boston Celtics. However, the series was a bit of a struggle for Durant.
The Celtics hounded Durant on defense. An NBA analyst explained that the Celtics clogged the paint and Durant’s personal space, which prevented him from posting up on the block. He was forced to take more contested jumpers and pass out of double-teams. Durant somehow found a way to average 26.3 points, 6.3 assists, and 5.8 rebounds in the series. Unfortunately, the Nets got swept 4-0. Many questions followed Durant after the Nets’ first-round sweep, and rightfully so. Durant dealt with a lot of controversy up to that point, but these questions would be uncomfortably answered during the following season.
Season 4 (2022-23): The Brooklyn Reaper Nears the End of His Term
The Brooklyn Nets had been through a lot by the time Kevin Durant reached his 4th season with the team. Numerous trades, teammate controversy, and a lack of a championship marked turmoil in Brooklyn. Durant eventually requested a trade during the offseason of 2022. He later went back on the request, choosing to continue his “partnership” with the Nets. The partnership did not go smoothly with the Nets losing many games at the start of the season. As the leader of the team, Durant did not shy away from addressing the adversity. In an interview with Bleacher Report, Durant expressed his discontent as well as the status of his headspace.
“I went to [my teammates] and [told them] I don’t like the way we are preparing. Look at our starting Lineup. Edmond Sumner, Royce’ O Neal, Joe Harris, Nic Claxton, and me. It’s not disrespect, but what are you expecting from that group? You expect us to win because I’m out there” (2022).
“I’m really having a good time. I’m enjoying every moment I get to step on this court…I can play with anybody, anywhere, at any time, and you know I’m going to bring it every day. That should be my legacy.”
Durant also talked about how his legacy should be hinged on the knowledge and confidence he has shared with his teammates over the years. His comments about his Nets teammates implied that they were not living up to his standard, but at the same time, he expressed his enjoyment of the entire process of basketball. His comment about his legacy suggests that people should not judge him based on how many championships he has. Rather, they should recognize him as a versatile, dominant player who impacts other players and is committed to the game of basketball.
Durant’s Time in Brooklyn Ends
In the weeks following Durant’s comments, the Nets would go on a dominant stretch of basketball including a 10-game winning streak. It seemed things were going to be okay in Brooklyn after all, until Durant was hit with another knee injury. The injury came at poor timing. Kyrie Irving tried to fill the hole Durant’s injury left, but it was not enough to hold the team together. Irving’s contract negotiations with the Nets went sour, and he requested a trade from Brooklyn. By the trade deadline, Irving was dealt to the Dallas Mavericks. Many thought the return of assets from the Mavericks would entice Durant. However, in a shocking turn of events, he was traded to the Phoenix Suns in a blockbuster move. This marked the end of Durant’s tenure with the Nets.
Kevin Durant Left an Impactful Legacy in Brooklyn
Although Durant did not win a championship for the Nets during his four seasons, he left an undoubtfully impactful legacy. He helped elevate the Nets’ standards of winning, filled fans with excitement with his phenomenal play, and further cemented himself as a Nets and NBA all-time great. After he was traded to Phoenix, Durant delivered a heartfelt message about his time in Brooklyn.
“It was a lot of ups and downs, but I loved the grind, and everybody in Brooklyn loved the grind too, so I built a family over there. They’re gonna always be part of my journey. We didn’t accomplish what we wanted to accomplish as far as winning a championship [but] we tried our hardest every day regardless of what was going on. So I love those guys. I get emotional talking about it because it was a special four years of my career, coming off an Achilles. They helped me through a lot” (2023).
Kevin Durant will always have a family in Brooklyn. He helped create memories that Nets fans will never forget.
