Kevin Durant shocked the NBA world on July 7, 2019. The then 30-year-old, 10-time All-Star was taking his talents to the Brooklyn Nets, fresh off three-straight NBA Finals appearances with the Golden State Warriors. Durant wanted to prove to the doubters that he could lead his own team to a championship, something he would never get credit for in Golden State. Fair or unfair, the Warriors were always Stephen Curry’s team, but Brooklyn gave Durant the opportunity to create something of his own. Not to mention, Durant brought Kyrie Irving with him. Five years later, the Durant-Brooklyn era is nothing but an afterthought among Nets fans. This begs the question: Did Durant deserve a tribute video from the Nets?
Did Kevin Durant Deserve a Tribute Video From the Nets?
For obvious reasons, Wednesday’s Phoenix Suns vs. Nets game was circled on many NBA fans’ calendars. Not only was this Durant’s first time back at the Barclays Center since his trade to Phoneix, but Mikal Bridges and Cameron Johnson also got to go up against some former teammates. What’s the NBA without constant drama and storylines?
Durant went off for 33 points in the Suns’ 136-120 win over the Nets despite getting booed by the Brooklyn faithful every time he touched the ball.
This conversation regarding a tribute video started on the social media platform X when a poll asked, “Does Kevin Durant deserve a tribute video from the Brooklyn Nets next week?”
Does Kevin Durant deserve a tribute video from the Brooklyn Nets next week?
— Billy Reinhardt (@BillyReinhardt) January 28, 2024
The poll became quite popular, amassing over 15,000 votes, and was relatively close. 56.7% of voters said ‘no’ and 43.3% said ‘yes.’
The Nets are known for being quite generous when it comes to tribute videos. To the surprise of many, they gave Blake Griffin a tribute video last season.
The Brooklyn Nets made a tribute video for Blake Griffin pic.twitter.com/JVAVmnkvhN
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) December 5, 2022
Tributes of the Past
Griffin played in just 96 games with the Nets over two years, including the playoffs. Although he was a key rotation piece for Brooklyn, Griffin averaged just 7.5 points per game during his Nets tenure.
The Nets also gave a tribute video to Bruce Brown, who played just two seasons for the Nets.
Nets played a tribute video for Bruce Brown during the break. pic.twitter.com/xbCMaTJONw
— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) March 19, 2023
Although Griffin and Brown might not be who you’d expect a franchise to make a tribute video for, they seem to signify players who had an impact and left the organization on “good terms.”
The same cannot be said for Durant.
Durant made his opinion on this matter clear by responding to a thread within the original poll.
Please don’t, the night will be better without it
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) January 28, 2024
The Durant-Brooklyn era had a few highs but mainly consisted of disappointment, injuries, and underachieving. In his 3.5 years in Brooklyn, the Nets won just one playoff series. Two trade requests later, Durant headed to Phoneix.
I agree wit u
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) January 28, 2024
It seems as though even the often sarcastic Durant can admit his tenure in Brooklyn did not go according to plan.
But despite Durant’s wishes, the Nets gave him a small tribute video ahead of tipoff on Wednesday.
Kevin Durant tribute video from the Nets.
(via @SNYNets)
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) February 1, 2024
Durant’s Tenure in Brooklyn
It started when Durant pushed the organization to trade for James Harden. The Nets traded two depth pieces in Caris LeVert and Jarrett Allen, as well as four first-round picks and three pick swaps.
Although Harden missed 21 of the Nets’ last 24 games in the 2020-2021 season, they finished as the second seed and took down the Jaylen Brown-less Boston Celtics in just five games.
The Nets went on to fall in seven games to the eventual NBA champs, the Milwaukee Bucks. If Durant’s shoe was behind the line, and his game-tying shot in Game 7 turned into a game-winning shot, we may be having an entirely different discussion.
The following season, the wheels fell off the bus for the “big three.” Irving’s vaccination status made him ineligible to play in home games. In turn, Harden asked for a trade to the Philadelphia 76ers to reunite with his old GM.
The Celtics swept Durant and the Nets in the 2022 playoffs, and he had one of the worst playoff series of his career. Despite averaging 26.3 points for the series, Durant shot 38.6% from the field and 33.3% from three-point range.
In the offseason, Durant requested a trade from the Nets, citing the uncertainty of Irving’s relationship with the organization. Durant eventually got his wish a few months later following another trade request.
The Last Word
Despite winning two of their last three games and returning some key pieces, the Nets are 4-10 in January and in 11th place in the Eastern Conference. The Suns, on the other hand, have found their stride, winning nine of their last 11 games. They currently sit in sixth place in the Western Conference. These two teams are heading in the opposite direction, following one of the biggest trades in NBA history. All in all, Durant, who has more trades requested than playoff series victories in Brooklyn, did not deserve a tribute video from the Nets.
