Kevin Durant points out why he rescinded trade request from Nets: ‘I’m glad I’m here now’

Nets star Kevin Durant claimed he returned to Brooklyn soon after his unfulfilled trade ask for since the Nets ended up nevertheless “a good alternative.”

Durant, who requested a trade twice in the offseason and reportedly requested staff owner Joe Tsai to fireplace both of those basic supervisor Sean Marks and head mentor Steve Nash, selected to remain set even although there’s mind-boggling evidence proving superstars who want out can in the long run pressure their way.

James Harden, for occasion, compelled a midseason trade from Brooklyn to Philadelphia following forcing a trade from Houston to Brooklyn.

“[I came back because] I felt like we had a great crew. I felt like this is a put that I reported I wanted to be and we’re commencing to established something up in the potential to be a reliable staff,” he reported soon after Working day 4 of Nets training camp at the HSS Training Facility in Market Metropolis on Friday. “So to be sincere, I thought [Brooklyn] was nevertheless a good solution, too. I didn’t want [the trade request] to get in the way of the games getting played.

“I nonetheless adore my teammates, I appreciate playing at the Barclays. So I felt like regardless it is gonna be an simple decision to occur back and enjoy due to the fact I really like the hoop. This has been a good ecosystem for me the final two years, even however I had some uncertainties, but overall, on the lookout at it, I even now like to occur in below and get get the job done in.”

Durant echoed the exact same sentiments shared by the two Marks and Nash on Media Day. Durant met with Marks, Nash and Tsai immediately after issuing the ultimatum, and the group cleared the air to aid set the superstar forward’s worries at relieve.

On Media Working day, Durant explained he requested a trade due to the fact of a lack of accountability and championship lifestyle in Brooklyn.

“I was upset, and as a relatives, they recognized that I was upset,” he stated on Friday. “Some of the things they agreed with, and so we talked about it, and it was about a few of months in the direction of the finish of that exactly where we talked about it, and we came out and we voiced all our problems about how we all can be better, and it just labored out from there.

“I’m glad I’m listed here now.”

Durant — who mentioned he expects to perform in all four preseason games, even though he doesn’t foresee a significant minutes load — was also complimentary of the roster moves the Nets produced this summer time. Marks’ offseason incorporated investing for 3-and-D wing Royce O’Neale, signing T.J. Warren and Edmond Sumner, and re-signing equally Nic Claxton and Patty Mills to two-calendar year promotions. The Nets also welcomed Ben Simmons (back again) and Joe Harris (ankle) back again from injuries. The roster additions had been 1 of the good reasons Durant felt at ease returning to Brooklyn soon after wanting out.

“Oh yeah, we’re functional,” reported Durant. “We’ve obtained larger guys. Previous calendar year in the playoffs we performed a good deal of smaller fellas underneath 6-4 a good deal of them performed against a large workforce in the Celtics. I assume we acquired even bigger as a team all round. And we have acquired a ton of IQ in the creating as properly.

“Royce performed in some playoff stretches. Ben clearly. Seth. So we’ve got some playoff experience in right here that is likely to help down the line.”

The two-time Finals MVP and a person-time NBA Most Precious Participant of the 12 months stated he thinks the group can be productive this year mainly because they are coming into teaching camp practically fully wholesome.

“We look at it in the grand scheme of items, like we haven’t been balanced at all for two a long time,” he said. “It’s been, each individual playoffs, we have had big men just miss minutes, like not just position gamers, men that make a whole lot of money. So when you obtained $50 million on your bench this very last playoffs with Joe and Ben, and then playoffs in advance of that — I want to see what our crew appears to be like like in comprehensive with men becoming healthier and us possessing a minor little bit of continuity. So we’ll see what comes about.”

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