Getty Kevin Durant of the Brooklyn Nets.
Less than a week after Kevin Durant requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets, a former NFL great called for Durant to “bring this party to Miami.”
Frank Gore, a five-time Pro Bowler with the San Francisco 49ers, used his July 3 appearance on an Instagram Live interview to urge Durant (and his Nets teammate Kyrie Irving) to join forces with the Miami Heat next season.
“They need to hurry up and come down and bring this party to Miami, and it’ll be back to how [Dwyane] Wade and [LeBron] had it down here!” Gore told Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson of Bally Sports, referencing the four-year period when James and Wade won two NBA titles together in Miami. “Yeah. We probably need both of ‘em. If we get either one of them [KD or Kyrie], we’re DEFINITELY going!”
Despite a turmoil-filled season that ended with a sweep at the hands of Boston Celtics in the first round of the Eastern Conference finals, Durant, who is one of the most gifted superstars in NBA history, will command a trade package that could be one of the largest ever.
Kevin Durant requesting a trade in basketball is “way different” in the NFL world notes @frankgore during our @BovadaOfficial IG Live Chat.
Gore shares why basketball players have “all the power.”
The latest Nets news straight to your inbox! Join the Heavy on Nets newsletter here!
Gore: Durant Can Play ‘Forever’
Durant, who has played 14 seasons in the NBA, will be 34 years old when the 2022-23 season start, and some believe that the clock is ticking on his chance to win his third NBA title. But Gore said he believed that with Durant’s skill set, he can play for as long as he desires.
“KD is probably the top 2 player in the league right now man. … His skills are crazy. In fact, as long as KD stays healthy, he’ll play forever,” said Gore, who retired from football after the 2020 season. “His skill set, you know what I’m sayin’? He can shoot, he has handles. KD has been in this game for a while.”
And though he has already won two NBA Finals MVP awards during his three seasons with the Golden State Warriors, many people believe that the All-NBA forward would like to prove he can win a title outside the Warriors’ system.
Although Durant has requested a trade out of Brooklyn, Irving does not appear to be the reason. In fact, ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski reported last month that Durant and Kyrie would be open to playing together again but do not want to remain in Brooklyn. The Heat are on Durant’s short list of preferred trade destinations, according to Wojnarowski.
Gore: More Power for NBA Stars
Despite a rollercoaster season in 2022, many people were surprised by Durant’s decision to demand a trade from the Nets. Especially because they had plans for him to be their franchise player of the future after signing him to a four-year, $198 million deal last summer. But contracts seem to have become merely a figure of speech in the NBA as because of the league’s player empowerment movement.
Players such as Ben Simmons, Anthony Davis and James Harden are on the short list of superstars who have forced trades despite being on max deals. Gore, 39 told Robinson that type of power is exclusive to the NBA and that in the NFL those types of power moves would never be allowed.
“On the NFL side, it’s different. Basketball players have way more power than football players,” Gore said. “I think quarterbacks have the player power that’s similar to basketball. It really depends. To force your way out on a football team, you have to do some crazy stuff but, basketball players got way more leeway than football players, man. … And they force their way out a lot.”
READ NEXT: NBA GM: Nets Could Get Huge Haul From Warriors in Kevin Durant Blockbuster Trade