Getty/Harry How Kevin Durant (right), when he was a member of the Golden State Warriors.
As the Brooklyn Nets have navigated the sagas of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, one thing has remained consistent: the message that they will remain friends.
But that doesn’t mean Durant wants to continue as Irving’s teammate. According to Fox Sports’ Chris Broussard, Durant is eyeing a reunion with his former Warriors co-star Steph Curry.
“I said this on ‘The Herd’ shortly after KD’s trade request: Somebody texted me — a good source — texted me at that point that Kevin Durant doesn’t want to play with Kyrie and that he wants to go to Golden State,” Broussard said on the July 14 episode of “First Things First.”
“Golden State can offer Brooklyn a very strong package — better than most teams — for Kevin Durant. … A source texted me after KD’s trade request & said that KD doesn’t want to play with Kyrie, & he wants to go to Golden State. It’s not an impossibility.” — @Chris_Broussard
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Broussard: Rumblings ‘Hard to Believe’
Still, Broussard seemed to question his source, saying it was difficult to imagine the information being accurate.
“I said it on ‘The Herd.’ I didn’t put too much bass in my voice because it is, like Nick [Wright] said, it’s hard to believe,” Broussard added. “I haven’t confirmed it with Kevin Durant or his agent. So, I am strongly leaning toward not believing that. But is it an impossibility? No.”
In Durant’s three years as Curry’s teammate (2016-19), the Warriors went to three straight finals and won two titles, with Durant being the Finals MVP on both occasions.
In two seasons with Irving as his teammate on the Nets, Durant has won only one playoff series and was swept for the first time in his career. He will be 34 when the 2022-23 season starts and looking for the best opportunity to win another title.
Durant in Awe of Curry’s Finals Performance
After a two-year absence from the postseason, the Warriors secured yet another title this season, with Curry winning the first Finals MVP award of his career.
Though Curry’s entire performance in the NBA Finals was remarkable, it was his outing in Game 4 that swung the series. Trying to avoid going down 3-1 to the Boston Celtics, Curry netted a 43-point, 10-rebound masterpiece on the road at TD Garden to tie the series at 2-2.
It was one of the best performances of his postseason career, and it caught the attention of Durant.
“The Game 4 was iconic to me. It’s like much more than just the win. That game right there was like, ‘All right, this is one of the greatest we’ve ever seen,” Durant said on the June 24 episode his podcast, “The ETCs.”
“In that environment, the shots he was making … the rebounds, though. It was the rebounds for me; playing with Steph, that’s how I know he’s super, super engaged when he’s on the boards heavy. Coming over somebody’s back grabbing an [offensive rebound], it’s just like, yo, he really wants this.”
Durant and Curry were amid an iconic run before Durant joined the Nets in 2019. They could be looking to settle some unfinished business.
Before Irving opted in for the final year of his Nets deal on June 28, Durant reiterated his commitment to their friendship.
“I just have to let things play out and see what happens. Keep the regular contact with Ky and see what happens,” he said on the June 24 episode of “The ETCs.” “Basketball is obviously the most important thing, but I try not to let that get in the way of somebody else’s personal decision. Like I said, whatever happens, the friendship will still be there.”
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Kevin Durant Changes Course on Reunion With Steph Curry, Warriors: Report